Parliament security breach: BJP MP Pratap Simha breaks silence, says people will decide if he is ‘traitor’

The Delhi Police have arrested all the five accused — including mastermind Lalit Jha — connected to the case.

They also arrested the other accused — Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, and Neelam Devi — in connection with the case.

They have all been presented in court and sent to judicial custody till 5 January.

Members of both houses of Parliament protested against the breach, demanding answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussions on the security lapse in the parliament during the winter session

This led to the unprecedented suspension of 146 Opposition members from the Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha since 14 December.

The Opposition parties, especially Congress, demanded immediate suspension of Simha over the security breach.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi confirmed to the media on 22 December that the Mysuru MP had recorded a statement as a part of a probe connected to the security breach incident.

Parliament security: HC stays order asking police to give FIR copy to accused

Simha speaks, but says little

Pratap Simha said on Sunday that the people would be the ultimate judges — of whether he was a patriot or a traitor — during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Simha refrained from divulging details about the incident and the ongoing probe, leaving the decision to divine entities, Mysuru-Kodagu voters, and his long-time supporters to determine the truth behind the “traitor” allegations against him.

He told reporters in Mysuru on Sunday: “Whether I am deemed a traitor or a patriot, the verdict will come from the divine abodes of Mysuru’s Goddess Chamundeshwari and Brahmagiri’s Mother Goddess Cauvery.”

He added: “It will also be echoed through the votes of my dedicated reader fans across Karnataka, who have followed my writings for the past two decades.”

He also said: “Additionally, the people of Mysuru and Kodagu, having witnessed my work and conduct over 9.5 years on matters related to our nation, religion, and nationalism, will cast their decisive votes in the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for April 2024.”

Addressing reporters in response to posters labelling him a “traitor,” he emphasised that the people hold the authority to pass judgment.

“They are the ones who will ultimately decide whether I am a patriot or not. I leave it entirely to their decision, and I have nothing more to add to that,” Simha refrained from commenting in detail about the incident.

The @BJP4Karantaka’s Mysuru MP @mepratap has finally broken his silence on the security lapses in the Lok Sabha on 13 December, 2023.

“People will be the ultimate judges to decide whether I am a patriot or a traitor during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls,” says @mepratap.

However,… pic.twitter.com/ulJVMHK0OC

— South First (@TheSouthfirst) December 24, 2023

In the aftermath of the Parliament security breach incident, Simha faced protests from the Congress and various organisations.

When asked about the incident and whether his statement was recorded by the police, Simha responded, “I have communicated everything I needed to. I don’t have any further comments on this matter.”

The Opposition parties, led by Congress, demanded the arrest and suspension of the BJP parliamentarian over the security lapse incident as two intruders Manoranjan and Sagar Sharma had got the entry passes to the visitors gallery of the Lok Sabha from the Mysuru MP’s office.

(With PTI inputs)