Some suspended LS MPs protest with placards on steps of Parliament
New Delhi (PTI): Some of the 13 suspended Lok Sabha MPs on Monday protested with placards sitting on the steps of Parliament, demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah on the Parliament security breach incident.
Congress MPs Mohammed Jawaid, Hibi Eden, Benny Behanan, Dean Kuriakose and CPI(M)'s S Venkatesan sat on the steps of Makar Dwar of Parliament, holding placards, protesting against the government.
Jawaid said the message they want to give through the protest was that the December 13 incident was a serious security breach and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have given a statement on it in the House and told the people of the country why this happened.
"You (BJP leaders) praised the new Parliament building, claimed that it was fully secure, it has not even been four months and during a debate intruders came in the Lok Sabha chamber, what can be a bigger breach...so either the PM or the Home Minister (Amit Shah) should make a statement in the House," the Congress MP from Kishenganj told PTI.
On the suspension of the MPs, Jawaid said, "We have seen in the four-and-a-half years, whenever someone has asked for answers from the prime minister, the home minister, Adani, suspension is a small thing, membership is being terminated, as we saw in Rahul Gandhi's case."
Several opposition MPs, while entering the Parliament building and exiting it, expressed support with the suspended legislators and clicked photographs with them.
Two people jumped from the visitors' gallery into the Lok Sabha chamber on December 13, with opposition parties, demanding a statement from Shah. Some members have also sought Shah's resignation.
The government has insisted that the security in Parliament complex is the responsibility of the Lok Sabha secretariat and it has been following the Speaker's directives. It has also cited numerous such violations in the past, accusing the opposition of politicising the issue.
Thirteen opposition MPs, including nine from the Congress and the DMK's Kanimozhi, were suspended from the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the session which is scheduled to end on December 22 for unruly conduct.
Opposition parties have slammed the suspension, noting that no action has been taken against BJP MP Prathap Simha, who facilitated the passes of two accused who carried smoke canisters with them, while their members have been suspended for raising the issue.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
