The letter comes after the Parliament works were stalled for two consecutive days last week over the security breach in LS and over Opposition demand for the Home Minister’s statement on the matter. The letter appeared to be an exercise aimed at signalling the Opposition’s readiness for a negotiated settlement to resume normal functioning of the House this week when it is slated to take up three important Bills to replace the criminal laws.
Significantly, Chowdhury’s letter focussed more on the issue of the suspension of the MPs while making only an observation that that Home Minister making a statement in the House would be “appropriate” given then HM L K Advani had made such a statement after terrorist attack on Parliament House in 2001.
“The sensitivity of the matter (security breach) and issues involved may have led to “heated situation”, and as the custodian of the “dignity and decorum” of the House, you are bound to take remedial action when matters perceivably go out of the way in enabling the House to function smoothly . However, considering the fact that the members who have been suspended on account of “unruly conduct” were pressing for an explanation from the Government on very troubling issues, to me, it appears to be appropriate to hear them on their concerns and points of view. Considering the factors that led to the suspension of 13 members in the recent days, I would urge that the matter be relooked into holistically and appropriate action taken for revoking the suspension and restoring order in the house”, Chowdhury said in his letter to the Speaker.
He also acknowledged the Speaker’s authority in matters of Parliament security. “Your authority over matters of security in Parliament House Estate is absolute”, he said and pointed out that it was on account of the fact that the security apparatus of the Parliament House Estate is also heavily dependent on the armed personnel of the Delhi Police, CRPF and other agencies, that following the 2001 terror attack on Parliament then HM Advani made a statement in the House. “In the present instance too it is but appropriate for the Home Minister to make a statement in the House on the incident”, Chowdhury wrote.
He made no mention about BJP MP Pratap Simha who had recommended the visitor’s passes for the intruders but said there is an need to address the “protocol” and “procedure” for issuing passes and stressed the need for the probe finding out both the reasons for the security lapse but also why the accused resorted to such action.
