Lok Sabha adjourned over 'manhandling' of BSP MP

Party alleges misbehaviour by PMs security personnel

 Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had to apologise on behalf of the government and the prime minister in the House for the incident as the agitating BSP MPs, backed by other opposition members, sought action against the SPG personnel and an apology from Manmohan Singh for the alleged incident.

The issue was raised by BSP’s Dara Singh Chauhan  during Zero Hour.“In the name of providing security to the prime minister, Members of Parliament are being insulted day in and day out. It is an insult to this august House,” Chauhan said demanding a thorough probe into the incident.

The BSP and Samajwadi Party (SP) members rushed into the well of the House.  United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi was seen talking to the agitated BSP members. With Opposition members unrelenting, Deputy Speaker Karia Munda adjourned the House till 2 pm.

When the House re-assembled, Mukherjee made an apology. “I sincerely apologise on behalf of the government and the Prime Minister,” he said.

Underlining that it was not merely a question of one individual member of Parliament, Mukherjee said, “If the Members of Parliament within the Parliament precincts are humiliated or insulted, it is not at all desirable.”

Chauhan questioned the necessity of SPG’s presence in Parliament complex for giving protection of the prime minister when there was adequate security for every other MP.
“I agree with you…Within Parliament precincts, Members of Parliament are equal.
Therefore, there are no two opinions in it. Unfortunately, if something had happened, I am extremely sorry for it,” Mukherjee said.

To ensure that such incidents do not happen in future, Mukherjee said, some institutional arrangement could be made. “Let this matter be settled,” he urged the members.

Meanwhile, Mulayam Singh Yadav of SP complained that several MPs had faced similar incidents earlier. If those deployed in security have such privilege, let the members know about it. “No one will come here (in Parliament),” he said.

The SP leader and Lalu Prasad of Rashtriya Janata Dal also used the opportunity to warn that setting up of Lokpal would take away the respect of the MPs as it would vest “all powers” in the police. “Think over it…Today, it is the SPG, tomorrow it will be the police,” RJD chief said.