Winter Session: TMC MP Derek O'Brien suspended from Parliament
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar suspended Derek O'Brien on Thursday for "ignoble misconduct." O'Brien—a member of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC)—demanded a discussion on Wednesday's Parliament security breach incident. He, along with other opposition leaders, demanded Union Home Minister Amit Shah answer questions related to the incident. Labeling his demand as a "breach of privilege," Dhankar asked O'Brien to leave the House.
Why does this story matter?
In a colossal security breach, two men with smoke canisters jumped from the visitors' gallery in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Six people were involved in the attack. In response, Lok Sabha Secretariat suspended eight personnel for lapses that led to a security breach. The incident came on the 22nd anniversary of the Parliament attack, wherein five terrorists killed eight security personnel and a gardener.
Watch: Chairperson Dhankar suspends O'Brien
Dhankar slams O'Brien for 'disorderly conduct'
"Derek O'Brien is named to leave the House immediately... Derek O'Brien says he will defy the Chair... Derek O'Brien says he will not respect the rules. This is a serious misconduct. This is a shameful incident," Dhankhar said in a warning to O'Brien.
Neelam Azad was arrested at wrestlers' protest earlier
Notably, the only female protester, Neelam Azad has been spotted at various other protests in past. In May, Azad was detained with wrestler Sakshi Malik's mother during a wrestlers' protest in New Delhi. She actively supported the farmer agitation in 2020-21 and sat with the protesters, per the Indian Express. She originally hails from Ghaso Khurd village in Jind district in Haryana.
Dhankar assures investigation into matter
While the House underwent a short adjournment, Dhankar reassured all the present MPs that a high-level investigation had been opened into the security breach, in addition to a police case being filed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi—who was absent from parliamentary proceedings on Wednesday—also held a meeting with senior ministers on Thursday to discuss the security breach.
Police arrest 5 people in relation to case
The Delhi police has arrested five people in relation to the case. Sagar Sharma and Manoranhan D from Karnataka were apprehended from inside the Lok Sabha for vandalizing and spraying smoke. Separately, two others—Neelam from Haryana and Amol Shinde from Maharashtra—were arrested outside the Transport Bhawan, where they were spraying smoke. A fifth individual was arrested later on Wednesday, while the sixth is absconding.
We have to be careful about issuing passes: Defence minister
Per reports, Manoranjan obtained two visitors' passes from Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Mysuru MP Prathap Simha to enter the House. Simha told Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that Manoranjan was in constant touch with his personal assistant to gain the passes. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned that they would have to be more careful about issuing the passes.
