Parliament panel remains divided on frisking of MPs after pepper spray incident

Even as the Lok Sabha came under pepper-spray attack, a parliament panel seemed to have developed cold feet to start frisking of MPs before they enter parliament.

Even as the Lok Sabha came under pepper-spray attack, a parliament panel seemed to have developed cold feet to start frisking of MPs before they enter parliament.

The 10-member committee on security in parliament complex met Monday to stop entry of "harmful or life threatening material into the complex" but could not arrive at a consensus on the issue of frisking or X-ray scanning of MPs.

While some members felt frisking is obstructive, some others felt that a scanning would violate their privacy. Sources in the panel added that it is not likely to make any immediate recommendation but wait for the new Lok Sabha to be formed.

While some members were in favour of strong action against expelled Congress MP Lagadapati Rajagopal, but sources suggest that as the current Lok Sabha is coming to and end, no further action is not likeyo to happen. Rajagopal and 15 other MPs were suspended last Thursday.