Karnataka Assembly sounds alert, cautions legislators after LS security breach
Belagavi, Dec 13: Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Wednesday sounded an alert, asking legislators to observe utmost caution and do proper verification before issuing visitor's passes to people, following two persons jumping into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery.
The government and the Assembly Speaker stressed the need to ensure proper security and strict monitoring to avoid any such untoward incidents during the ongoing legislature session here and in future in Bengaluru.
Terming the incident in Parliament as both condemnable and a warning bell, Speaker U T Khader said, a thorough investigation has to be conducted and strict punishment given to those behind it.
Stating that legislators and public representatives issue passes to people with good intention, despite not knowing them, Khader cautioned MLAs to be responsible and said, "strictly scrutinise before issuing passes, without knowing the identity and verifying Aadhaar card, don't issue passes."
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The Speaker also asked MLAs not to entertain people unnecessarily in Vidhana Soudha premises to ensure security, and said he has spoken to Home Minister, intelligence officers, Police, Deputy Commissioner, Marshals and other officials to ensure proper security.
Condemning the incident in Parliament, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, security and protection of places like Parliament and Vidhana Soudha are important and that he will ask the Home Minister to ensure proper bandobast.
Such an incident should not have happened and should never happen in future anywhere, he said, and also requested the Speaker to instruct the security staff to ensure that there are no security lapses and to remain cautious while issuing such passes.
"The incident in Parliament is condemnable, everyone has to condemn it. It is a warning to us too. Reports suggested that the pass was issued by one of our Lok Sabha members, I'm not sure, but while issuing passes it is good if it is issued to a known person," Siddaramaiah said.
The incident prima facie appears to be a security lapse, he said, adding, "it looks like probably they were not thoroughly checked; if checked properly such a thing wouldn't have happened, because everyone including Ministers and Leader of Opposition are checked at Parliament. I'm not making an allegation."
Asserting the need to be cautious at Vidhana Soudha too, Siddaramaiah said, it surprises him sometimes as to how so many people enter. "People may be good or bad, we won't know."
However, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, citing reports that Member of Lok Sabha from Mysuru Pratap Simha had issued passes to the persons who were behind the incident, said, " Pratap Simha is intelligent, I don't want to take names, but don't know why (he issued passes)."
As Simha is from Karnataka, Shivakumar claimed he was receiving calls from people asking as to why he issued the passes.
The DCM even said, "the Leader of Opposition (in assembly) (R Ashoka) should take the responsibility, he should give his advice".
Following this statement of Shivakumar, Congress MLA Nayana Motamma sought to know: "what would have happened if it was not a BJP MP and someone else issued the pass."
This drew strong objection from BJP legislators, leading to war of wards between treasury and opposition benches.
Ashoka said, Shivakumar and Congress were trying to politicise the issue. "His brother (D K Suresh) is also an MP, he too would have issued passes....this attempt to politicise is not right."
Shivakumar said, "as it is the matter of Parliament's security, I wanted to know your stand...your MP issued the pass. You have to condemn."
Jumping to Shivakumar's defence, Minister Priyank Kharge too said, "what would have happened if the pass was issued by Congress MP? They would have called us 'Desha Drohi'. We are asking how your MP issued....."
Countering it, Ashoka asked, "Did we hold Shivakumar responsible for the Mangaluru cooker bomb incident, following his statement regarding the bomber."
This led to heated arguments between Congress and BJP MLAs forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for some time.
Earlier raising the issue in the Assembly, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said, such a breach of security at a place like Parliament is worrying and has highlighted the need for us to be cautious.
Condemning the incident, Ashoka said, whether it is a security breach will be known after the investigation, and action will be taken.
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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.
