BJP MP S Muniswamy from Kolar springs surprise by acknowledging security lapse in Lok Sabha

While raising concerns on the security in the Lok Sabha, the BJP MP also stressed the need for advanced security in the new Parliament building.

Condemning the act, Muniswamy said he suspected the involvement of militants or Maoists in the security breach.

He also said Mysuru MP Pratap Simha was under probe as two of the intruders had obtained entry passes to the visitors’ gallery from his office.

However, Simha has yet to issue a public statement on this matter.

Meanwhile, investigative teams are interrogating seven people — including Mysuru-resident Manoranjan Gowda — in connection with the case.

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What the MP said

Kolar MP S Muniswamy publicly admitting that a security breach in the Lok Sabha was the fault of the Union government surprised many.

The Lok Sabha member told reporters in the Srinivaspura taluka in Karnataka’s Kolar district on Friday: “We admit the security failure in the Lok Sabha. A more advanced security system is needed in place in Parliament.”

He added: “I, Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, and others helped catch those intruders who breached the security and hand them over to the authorities.”

He also said: “If there were a Congress government [at the Centre], it would have taken years to arrest the accused. Wasn’t it an unknown person who broke into the Karnataka Assembly and sat in an MLA’s seat recently? What action was initiated against him?”

Muniswamy also alleged: “This is an act meant to tarnish the reputation and image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Unable to bear the losses in the recently-held Assembly elections, they hatched a conspiracy to defame the BJP.”

The jab was at the Congress, but the BJP MP did not name anyone.

“Looking at the security breach in the Lok Sabha, on the same date of the 2001 terror attack on Parliament, it seems militants and Maoists are involved in this incident,” said Muniswamy.

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Pratap Simha under scanner

On 13 December, two people — including Manoranjan from Karnataka — not only breached the security but also released yellow smoke from a canister while proceedings were underway for the ongoing winter session in the Lok Sabha.

It later emerged that they had managed to get entry passes to the visitors’ gallery from Mysuru MP Pratap Simha’s office.

MPs managed to catch the intruders and hand them over to the security personnel. Four people connected to the incident were arrested that day

Muniswamy told reporters on Friday: “The probe is underway and everyone related to the case — including Mysuru MP Pratap Simha — will also be investigated. If there is an offence, Pratap Simha will also be punished. However, Congressmen should not politicise the security lapse in Parliament.”

Sniffing a conspiracy against Pratap Simha, he said: “Efforts are on to defame Mysuru MP Pratap Simha. He is a patriot.”

He added: “When someone asks for a pass, we collect certain information and give it. Now, a situation has arisen where we have to think at least a hundred times before giving passes.”

He continued: “Youths should not indulge in such acts for money. What would have happened if the security personnel accidentally shot at them?”

On the Opposition’s demand for the arrest of Simha, Muniswamy reacted sharply: “Who is Siddaramaiah? Is he the prime minister, the Union home minister, or the investigating officer to demand the arrest of and a probe into Pratap Simha?”

He added: “The Congress gave away portions of this country to China and Pakistan. They are dividing the country to appease a particular religion.”