15 MPs, including 13 from TN and Kerala, suspended for protesting Parliament security breach

Of nine Congress Lok Sabha MPs suspended, six are from Kerala — N Prathapan (Thrissur), Hibi Eden (Ernakulam), Ramya Haridas (Alathur), Dean Kuriakose (Idukki), Benny Behanan (Chalakudy), and VK Sreekandan (Palakkad) — two from Tamil Nadu — Jothimani Sennimalai (Karur), and Manickam Tagore (Virudhunagar) — and Mohammed Jawed from Kishanganj, Bihar.

Other Lok Sabha members suspended were Kanimozhi (Thoothukudi) and SR Parthiban (Salem), both from DMK, CPI(M) members PR Natarajan (Coimbatore), and S Venkatesan (Madurai), and CPI member K Subbarayan (Tiruppur). All of them from Tamil Nadu.

The lone Rajya Sabha MP suspended was Derek O’Brien of the TMC.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved the resolution in the Lok Sabha to initially suspend five parliamentarians, with nine more joining the list when the House reconvened.

In the Rajya Sabha, a similar resolution was moved against TMC MP Derek O’Brien.

Meanwhile, DMK MP Senthilkumar S posted on X that suspended MP SR Parthiban was absent for the proceedings and he was in Chennai.

15 MPs of opposition parties were suspended from Loksabha for rest of winter session till 22nd for holding placards demanding answer from HM for a detailed response to security breach

Parthiban of DMK was not present during that time but his name too included in suspension list pic.twitter.com/CfatTuqy9e

— Dr.Senthilkumar.S (@DrSenthil_MDRD) December 14, 2023

Parliament security breach: Brain behind breach still on the run

The session

Earlier, when the Lok Sabha met on Thursday — a  day after a serious security breach occurred in the House — Opposition members engaged in vociferous protests demanding a statement from the government, especially Union Home Minister Shah.

They were also demanding the resignation of Shah over the security breach soon after the session started with Question Hour at 11 am.

The Speaker and the House, including the cameras, did not focus on the Opposition members who were raising slogans and the Speaker tried to continue with Question Hour.

However, the continued protest by the Opposition forced the Speaker to break his silence. “Members, we are worried about the incident that happened yesterday,” said Birla.

He asserted that the security of the Parliament complex was the responsibility of the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

He assured that the Lok Sabha Secretariat would sit with the members and take the matter of security seriously “and the government cannot interfere in the matters of Lok Sabha Secretariat”, said Birla.

“It is our jurisdiction,” he said, and told the Opposition members that he was ready to discuss the security breach issue with them.

Birla said he wouldn’t allow the Opposition to bring the issue of the government in the House, “It’s my responsibility, it’s the Lok Sabha’s responsibility,” said Birla.

Deputy Leader of the House and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said all parties should come together and condemn the incident and there was no point in protesting in the House.

“All have condemned it. We need to be careful… we should not give passes to those who create disturbances,” Singh said amid the din.

In the old building, too, incidents of throwing paper and “jumping” have taken place, he said, and added there was no need to create disturbance in the House.

15 MPs have been suspended for asking the government to be accountable for the breach of security in the Parliament. pic.twitter.com/GQEvDlYBtd

— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) December 14, 2023

Also read: 5th suspect nabbed, sources say plan hatched few days ago

The Rajya Sabha

Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar asked the members to lay the reports of the parliamentary committees in the House.

But after the reports were placed, 28 MPs served notices under rule 267 of Parliament — suspension of business to take up urgent issues — to discuss the security breach.

“These notices do not merit admittance,” Dhankar, however, said, provoking Opposition members to raise slogans insisting on a discussion.

Chairman Dhankhar named TMC’s Derek O’Brien and warned him about his conduct and adjourned the House till 12 pm.

When the session started after the adjournment, O’Brien was suspended from the Rajya Sabha by the chairman for the remainder of the Winter Session for his “unruly behaviour” and “misconduct”.

Accusing O’Brien of violating the directions of the chair and for disrupting the proceedings of the House, the chairman allowed Leader of the House Piyush Goyal to move a motion in this regard.

The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the chairman announced that O’Brien was suspended from the House for the remainder of the session.

Dhankhar then adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm as members of the Opposition protested against the suspension.

Also Read: Lok Sabha intruder’s father says Manoranjan ‘a big fan of PM’

The incident

On Wednesday, two people jumped into the well of the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors’ gallery, shouted slogans, and released yellow smoke from canisters that triggered panic and chaos in the House.

Soon after the security breach, Birla had ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.

The Ministry of Home Affairs also ordered a probe into the Parliament security breach incident following a request from the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

The inquiry committee, headed by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Anish Dayal Singh, along with members from other security agencies and experts, will ascertain the reason for the lapse in the security of Parliament and recommend action, an MHA spokesperson said.

Sources said on Thursday that eight personnel have been suspended for lapses.

Two persons — Sagar Sharma and Karnataka man Manoranjan D — jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber and two other accused — Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi — sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting “Tanashahi nahi chalegi” (Dictatorship would not be allowed) outside the Parliament premises.

The Delhi Police, who are probing the case, said that a total of six people were involved in the incident.

A resident of Kolkata, Lalit Jha, a teacher by profession, has been named the main conspirators of the security breach, police said.

An accomplice, Vishal, in whose house the accused stayed before reaching Parliament, was detained from Gurugram while a hunt is on for mastermind Lalit Jha.

Also Read: Karnataka, TN, Telangana CMs condemn Parliament security breach