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Congress workers stage protest against BJP MP Pratap Simha in Bengaluru demanding his arrest

Congress workers staged a protest against BJP MP Pratap Simha in Bengaluru on Thursday and demanded his arrest and immediate disqualification.

Published on: Dec 14, 2023, 16:34:43 IST
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Congress workers staged a protest against BJP MP Pratap Simha in Bengaluru on Thursday and demanded his arrest and immediate disqualification. Simha faces opposition scrutiny over allegations of providing Parliament passes to individuals responsible for triggering panic in the Lok Sabha with smoke canisters.

Mysuru MP Pratap Simha.
Mysuru MP Pratap Simha.

A protesting Congress worker said, "We demand his arrest and immediate disqualification. We have seen he is linked with the intruders and he provided them with the pass. We are sure that the intrusion happened to target Rahul Gandhi. BJP government has failed to give protection to Parliament. Pratap Sinha should explain whether he is linked to them."

The Lok Sabha on Thursday was adjourned till 2 pm after the opposition members created a ruckus inside the Lower House over Wednesday's Parliament security breach incident. Opposition members raised the slogans demanding the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah.

READ | 14 Opposition MPs suspended from Lok Sabha for remainder of Parliament's Winter Session

Earlier Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh alleged that the BJP was trying to divert attention from the fact that the intruders had been given access to the Parliament by BJP MP Pratap Simha.

In a post on X Jairam Ramesh said that the Congress was demanding, "A detailed statement by the Home Minister in both Houses, followed by a discussion on the very serious and shocking security breach witnessed in the Lok Sabha yesterday. Strict action against the BJP MP Pratap Simha who provided the visitor passes to the intruders. The Modi government's refusal to accept these perfectly legitimate and reasonable demands has led to the adjournment of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha today morning."

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, "...The problem the MPs have is the feeling that the government is not taking this seriously enough...We must hear from the government at the highest responsible level. We want the Home Minister to come and speak to the Parliament."

Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MP Hanuman Beniwal also raised the issue of some MPs getting extra visitor passed.

"...Four people who were inside should be found out...Some MPs are bringing with them hundreds of visitors whereas some MPs are not able to take even two visitors. This is the situation inside and as a result, this has happened..." Hanuman Beniwal said.

READ | 'Could be grenade, bomb...': Congress wants action against BJP MP Pratap Simha over Lok Sabha security breach

Meanwhile, a drastic security change was witnessed in the Parliament on Thursday with security personnel deputed on the entrance of the outer gates insisting to remove even shoes despite doing minute frisking of those entering the premises of the campus.

The new security set-up looks similar to that of the airport where shoes, especially long boots or a few made of leather, are asked to open during security check. Only MPs are being allowed to enter the Parliament building from Makar Dwar, and all persons entering the building are being checked thoroughly.

As per the Ministry of Home Affairs, the enquiry committee will investigate into the reasons for breach in security of Parliament, identify lapses and recommend further action. "The Committee will submit its report with recommendations, including suggestions on improving security in Parliament, at the earliest," the MHA had said.

  • Yamini C S
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Yamini C S

    Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More