New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the December 13 security lapse in Parliament as “sad and worrying” and said it was important to know the elements behind this incident and their intentions.
Speaking to Hindi daily ‘Dainik Jagran’, Modi said the seriousness of the security breach in Parliament cannot be underestimated and called for no squabbling over the issue amid opposition’s protests over it in Parliament.
“The gravity of the incident in Parliament should not be underestimated at all. Therefore, Speaker Sir is taking the necessary steps with full seriousness. The investigating agencies are investigating strictly. It is equally important to go into depth as to what are the elements and intentions behind this,” Modi was quoted.
The PM said it was “necessary to go into the depth of the matter so that a solution can be found”, adding that “squabbling or protesting over it should be avoided”.
The Opposition has been demanding a statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament over the security breach on December 13 that saw two people, carrying smoke canisters, jumping from the visitors’ gallery into the chamber of the Lok Sabha. Both the people were heard chanting slogans.
Modi called for a detailed investigation into last week’s major security breach at the Parliament.
“What happened is very serious,” Modi said in his first comments on Wednesday’s breach. “There is no need to debate this, there should be a detailed investigation into this.
Modi said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was taking necessary steps with utmost seriousness into the incident.
“Investigative agencies are probing rigorously. It is important to know who all are behind this and what plans they have. We should also seek solutions with a single mind. Everyone should refrain from debate, controversy, or resistance on such matters,” Modi said.
Two men – Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D – had jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow smoke from canisters and shouted slogans, before being overpowered by the MPs.
Around the same time, two others — Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi — released coloured smoke from canisters while shouting “tanashahi nahi chalegi” outside the Parliament premises.
Lalit Jha, the fifth accused, allegedly circulated videos of the protest outside the complex on social media.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari criticised PM Modi and said he should rather make the statement on the security breach in Parliament.
“Instead of making a statement in the House, PM Modi is speaking about the security breach incident in an interview with a newspaper. A joint parliamentary committee should be formed to probe the incident and Parliament should be told that such an incident will not happen again,” he told PTI.
