Parliament security service make a comeback in both Houses

In a sudden development, the Parliament Security Service (PSS) personnel made a comeback in both Houses on August 4, manning the security inside Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha.

According to sources, the change in security arrangement did not come as a surprise after last week's incident in Rajya Sabha, when the CISF personnel were seen blocking the entry to the Well of the House, raising the hackles of Opposition members, who had taken up the matter with Deputy Chairman Harivansh.

Subsequently, it is reliably learnt that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, in order to prevent the matter from escalating, is said to have directed the PSS personnel during a meeting on August 4 (Monday) to remain in the forefront and manage the affairs inside the House. Consequently around 10 PSS personnel were deputed in both the Houses, the same day.

On August 1, when a member from AAP was speaking in Rajya Sabha, TMC’s Dola Sen had started protesting against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral roll in Bihar, leading to the House being adjourned. Later, when Rajya Sabha had reconvened, CISF personnel were seen blocking the entry to the Well. Seeing this, several Opposition members had expressed their displeasure and also complained to the Deputy Chairman.

Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and TMC's floor leader Derek O'brien had objected to the incident, saying that it was an effort to limit the rights of MPs.

This ultimately led to the change in security arrangements in both the Houses, sources informed further.

Incidentally, the row which had begun on August 1, was witnessed again on Tuesday morning after zero hour, with Deputy Chairman Harivansh expressing unhappiness that Kharge had made public a letter written to him on Friday.

The letter read, “... We (the Opposition MPs in Rajya Sabha) are astonished and shocked at the manner in which CISF personnel were made to run into the Well... while members were exercising their democratic right to protest.”

"This is most objectionable... we strongly condemn it. We expect, in the future, CISF personnel will not come trooping into the Well while members are raising important issues...”