Fourteen Indian opposition MPs have been suspended after protesting against a security breach in the parliament.
At least four people were arrested after two intruders shouted slogans and set off coloured smoke inside parliament. Their motive remains unclear.
The federal home ministry has ordered an investigation into the incident.
The security lapse occurred on the 22nd anniversary of a deadly attack on the parliament.
On Thursday, a day after the breach, security was ramped up around the parliament building, with barricades outside the complex to restrict entry.
Both houses were adjourned after protests by opposition MPs who demanded a discussion on the incident and statements from the prime minister and the home minister.
In the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the parliament, opposition MP Derek O’Brien was suspended for “ignoble conduct” after he shouted slogans demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah.
In the Lok Sabha, the lower house, 13 MPs from opposition parties such as the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam were suspended until 22 December, when the session ends.
Before the session was adjourned, defence minister Rajnath Singh said in parliament that the incident had been condemned by “everyone”. “We all – ruling and opposition MPs – have to be careful about to whom we issue the passes (to enter parliament),” he said.
Opposition leaders have demanded action against Pratap Simha, an MP from the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who allegedly signed the passes used by the intruders to enter the public gallery in parliament.
Neither Mr Simha nor his party have officially commented. The BBC has emailed the MP for comment.
A police official told Reuters that visitor passes had been suspended until a security review was completed for the parliament building.
Reports say the four accused – three men and a woman in their 20s and 30s – will be produced in court on Thursday. Police have not officially confirmed their identities yet, but their families have been speaking to local media, and newspapers have published their photos and names.
The incident occurred on Wednesday while lawmakers were in session in the Lok Sabha, the lower house. Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders had paid tribute to the victims of the attack in 2001 in which nine people were killed. All five of the attackers were killed by the security forces.
MPs said two men jumped into the chamber from the public gallery and set off canisters of coloured smoke. One of the men was seen jumping from table to table as lawmakers and security officials tried to catch him.
Two others – a man and a woman – shouted slogans outside the parliament and set off coloured smoke from canisters. They were seen on video being led away by the police.
Source : BBC
