Parliament security breach: Logjam continues in Parliament as both Houses witness 2 adjournments

The proceedings were adjourned due to protests by Opposition members who were demanding a statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his resignation over the issue.

Opposition raised slogans

When the Rajya Sabha met on 11:30 am after the first adjournment, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar welcomed a parliamentary delegation from Sri Lanka to the Rajya Sabha.

Soon after, Opposition MP started raising slogans demanding that the Union Home Minister make a statement in the House on the security breach matter. Some protesting members also carried placards.

As the sloganeering continued, Dhankhar cautioned Binoy Viswam of the CPI and another member. Later, the Chairman adjourned the House proceedings till 2 pm.

Opposition MPs said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have made statements on the issue outside the Rajya Sabha, their demand for a discussion on the issue in the House was not being allowed.

Earlier in the day, Dhankhar rejected 22 notices given by Opposition MPs under Rule 267, calling for setting aside the business of the day to take up a discussion on the issue of breach of security at the Parliament, saying that “they do not merit admittance”.

The Chairman did not mention the subject of the notices.

Opposition MPs rose in their places, demanding that the Chair at least mention the issue. When the Chair refused, they started raising slogans.

Later, Tiruchi Siva of the DMK told PTI that all notices under Rule 267 were related to the security breach issue.

Parliament security breach: Police recover pieces of burnt phone

‘Adjournments due to Shah’s ‘refusal’ to make statement’

The Congress’ KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, and Rajeev Shukla said that the Prime Minister and Home Minister have spoken on the issue outside but Opposition parties were not being allowed to raise the issue inside the House. A few members were seen standing in the aisles, holding placards.

The Congress, on Monday, said that Parliament is getting adjourned repeatedly as Home Minister Amit Shah “refuses” to make a statement on the Lok Sabha security breach issue, which is his duty and responsibility.

Soon after both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 2 pm, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to a leading newspaper on the breach in the Lok Sabha and the Home Minister spoke to a TV channel on the issue while Parliament is in session.

“INDIA parties are demanding a statement from the Home Minister in both Houses on the shocking incidents. It is a simple, straightforward, and legitimate demand,” Ramesh said.

But the Home Minister refuses to make a statement which is his duty and responsibility, he said. “This is why Parliament is getting adjourned repeatedly,” Ramesh added.

Related: Parliament security breach serious issue: PM Modi

Placards make appearance

After the Lok Sabha paid tributes to Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who passed away on Saturday, Speaker Om Birla told the House about the steps taken by the Lok Sabha secretariat following the security breach incident on 13 December and sought cooperation from all members to run the House smoothly.

However, the Opposition members were on their feet demanding a statement from Shah and his resignation.

Some Opposition MPs were also carrying placards with their demands written on them.

Birla objected to the placards being brought into the House, saying it lowers the dignity of the House.

Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi also appealed to the Opposition members “with folded hands” not to wave the placards, saying that it was agreed at the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee not to carry placards.

The Opposition MPs ignored the appeal of Birla as well as Joshi and continued their protests along with sloganeering, leading to the speaker announcing the adjustment of the House till noon.

The House was adjourned for the second time as Opposition members continued with their sloganeering and showing placards.

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack last Wednesday, two men — Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D —- jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released coloured smoke and shouted slogans, before being overpowered by the MPs.

Two others, including a woman, were detained outside the Parliament complex for staging a protest.

Aside from these four, two more connected to the incident were arrested.

(With PTI inputs)