Speaker Om Birla orders probe into security lapse in Lok Sabha, junks any link to extremist Pannun

New Delhi: After two visitors jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber with smoke canisters on Wednesday, Speaker Om Birla assured the members not only of a high-level inquiry into the incident but also a comprehensive review of the security system of the new Parliament House.

Birla, however, played down the possibility of the security breach being linked to Khalistani Sikh extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s recent threat to attack the parliament of India. “This is not what you are referring to. I will make it clear to you after the preliminary probe,” the Lok Sabha Speaker said after Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP, N K Premachandran, drew his attention to the threat issued by the leader of the secessionist Sikhs for Justice organisation.

Pannun had in a recently circulated video vowed to carry out the strikes on or before December 13 – the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attack on the parliament of India.

“The incident is a matter of concern, and we are carrying out a high-level inquiry into this. The future course of action will be decided as per the findings of the probe,” Birla said after the house was re-assembled following the security breach.

He also promised a comprehensive review of the existing security system in parliament.

"This has also been sought by members of parliament. What all improvement can be done in the security measure will be assessed after discussing it matter with members," Birla said, adding: "The security will be further strengthened in consultations with the members, I will be discussing the matter with leaders of all political parties.”

The Speaker is expected to write to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking a security audit of the new parliament building.

Birla later had a meeting with the leaders of the different political parties. He also banned the issuance of visitors' passes for entry into parliament in the wake of the security breach.

The Speaker said the Lok Sabha was conducting a probe into the incident and the Delhi Police had also been instructed to carry out an investigation.

"The incident which happened during the Zero Hour, Lok Sabha at its level is investigating it and Delhi Police has been given the necessary directions. We were concerned about the smoke...a preliminary probe has revealed it was ordinary and aimed at creating sensationalism,” Birla said.

Birla lauded the Lok Sabha members, security personnel, chamber staff, and marshals for rising to the occasion and capturing the perpetrators. He recalled that the central paramilitary forces and the other security agencies had fought shoulders-to-shoulders and prevented the terrorist attack on Parliament in 2001.