Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE: Lok Sabha Speaker calls all-party meet over Parliament security breach

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Forming special team for interrogation, says Delhi Police

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

CRPF DG Anish Dayal Singh arrives in Parliament

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

These people smuggled in smoke pistols which shows serious security lapse, says Congress MP Shashi Tharoor

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Efforts to improve opportunities for underprivileged students: Union Minister Arjun Munda

Arjun Munda, Minister of Tribal Affairs, rises in the Rajya Sabha to support the provisions of the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

He claims that the administration is working to expand educational possibilities for people from indigenous communities.

He claims that they offered scholarships for higher education not just for Indian students but also for those studying abroad.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

LS Speaker says MPs not invited for DMF meetings; minister says will amend rules

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday raised the issue of MPs not being invited for meetings of the District Mineral Foundations in their areas, with the government assuring that rules will be amended to ensure their representation.

Birla, who represents Kota constituency in Rajasthan, mentioned the issue when Union minister Pralhad Joshi was responding to queries during Question Hour.

Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Joshi said the government will amend the rules so that compulsorily MPs and MLAs are part of the foundation’s governing council.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Opposition leaders demand probe over security breach in Parliament

In response to the security breach in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Congress national secretary KC Venugopal stated in a social media post that the infiltration is concerning, especially on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament assaults.

“The infiltration in the Lok Sabha is extremely troubling, especially on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attacks. I am glad there was no major injury or damage done to anyone. Parliament is among the most high-security buildings of our country. Such a major security lapse is unacceptable,” Venugopal posted on X.

“We demand answers from the Home Ministry and there must be a thorough review of the security arrangements in the new Parliament building,” further read the post.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Speaker bans visitors pass in Parliament after today’s security breach

Visitors’ passes in Parliament have been suspended as a result of the security breach in Lok Sabha.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Opposition walking out for no reason, says Leader of House Piyush Goyal

Piyush Goyal, Leader of the House, claims that the Opposition raises an issue everytime an OBC or Scheduled Caste bill is introduced.

Goyal claims that the Lok Sabha has been notified that there is no problem with the security lapse, but the opposition has walked out.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Central Universities should not be politicised: IUML MP Abdul Wahab

Abdul Wahab, IUML MP from Kerala, speaks in favour of the Bill. He claims that every institution in Kerala is politicised, and he expects that this would not be the case with Central Universities.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Lok Sabha adjourned till 4 p.m.

Speaker Om Birla returned to the chair amid opposition members’ sloganeering, reminding them that a meeting to examine the matter will be convened at 4 p.m. today.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Mallikarjun Kharge requested Chairman Dhankhar to adjourn proceedings, call Home Minister Amit Shah to comment on the security breach

Piyush Goyal responds, says the Opposition should come together to convey a message of unity and strength.

“Politicisation of this issue by Congress is not a good message for the country. I request the Leader of Opposition Mr. Kharge to allow the House to function normally while the investigation progresses,” he says.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Speaker Birla calls meeting of MPs to discuss security lapse

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Wednesday that the security breach in the House is being properly investigated and that a meeting of MPs from all parties would be held later in the day to address their concerns.

As the House convened at 2 p.m., amid concerns voiced by several leaders, including the threat video just released by designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, Speaker Birla stated that discussing the topic in the House would be inappropriate.

On the 22nd anniversary of the Parliament terror assault, two attackers burst into the Lok Sabha chamber during Zero Hour, releasing yellow gas from canisters and shouting slogans before being overcome by MPs.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Parliament security breach on 2001 attack anniversary affront to our democratic values: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the security breach inside Parliament on the anniversary of the 2001 attack was an “affront to our democratic values”.

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, two persons on Wednesday jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery and opened canisters that emitted a yellow-coloured smoke, triggering panic among the MPs.

The House was adjourned soon after the incident.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

MP Shashi Tharoor expresses concern about the absence of grievance redressal mechanism in the Post Office Bill, 2023

According to the regulation, officers “shall be exempted from any liability by reason of any loss, misdelivery, delay, or damage in the course of any service provided by the Post Office, except such liability as may be prescribed.”

The Thiruvananthapuram MP said that the measure strengthens the government’s authority to “intercept, detain, or destroy” postal contents without being held accountable to the public.

Establishing purpose, that is, “fraudulently” or “wilfully,” would subject them to redtapism.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Mallikarjun Kharge urges Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to comment on the intrusion incident in LS

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said that he will apprise the House before the day ends and asks Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to give the process some time.

“People are dying, how are you asking for time,” Kharge retorted.

Opposition members protested as BJP MP Vivek Thakur spoke on the Bill.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, the Post Office Bill, 2023 retains colonial, draconian provisions by eliminating accountability

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor raised concerns about the bill empowering the government to “empower any officer to intercept, open or detain any item in the interest of the security of the State.” This, according to him, does not provide for safeguarding the rights of citizens and is centred around an “ambiguous definition”.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

‘Thorough investigation being done’, says Speaker Om Birla referring to LS security breach

“A thorough investigation of the incident that took place during zero hour, is being done. Essential instructions have also been given to Delhi Police. In the primary investigation, it has been found that it was just a smoke and there is no need to worry about the smoke…” says Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Delhi Police officials arrive at the Parliament

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Where were the security officials, asks Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw introduces for consideration and passing: Post Office Bill, 2023

The Act is largely concerned with postal services supplied by Post Offices.

With the public utility’s operations expanding beyond mail delivery and its network becoming a vehicle of delivery for a range of citizen-centric services, it “necessitated the repeal of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 and enactment of a new law.”

According to the text of the bill, “it is proposed to bring the Post Office Bill, 2023 which addresses these changes and provides for a simple legislative framework to facilitate evolution of the post office into a network for delivery of citizen centric services”.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Rajya Sabha MPs urge Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to address the security breach in Lok Sabha

Jagdeep Dhankhar tries to pivot the Upper House to discuss the Bill but the members persist.

“The intruders in Lok Sabha visitors’ gallery were immediately been apprehended. The Parliamentary Security Service is examining the matter forthwith. We’ll apprise the members about the result before I rise for the day. Bear with me,” Dhankhar added.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

All material with the people who breached Parliament security has been confiscated, says Lok Sabha Speaker

According to initial indications, all of the material with the persons who penetrated the security of the parliament has been confiscated, said Lok Sabha Speaker OM Birla today. Two persons who were outside the parliament were also detained.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

There is no need to worry about the smoke, says Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Rajya Sabha takes up the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023

Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, introduces legislation to create the Central Tribal University in Telangana.

On 7 December, 2023, the Lok Sabha passed the Bill.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Anti-terror unit special cell of the Delhi Police arrives inside Parliament

The Delhi Police’s anti-terror section special cell comes inside the Parliament to interview those responsible for the security breach.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Incident is being verified, says Delhi Police sources

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Two people protesting with smoke out Parliament, detained by police

Police grabbed two protesters demonstrating with coloured smoke outside Parliament, in front of Transport Bhawan, and took them to Parliament Street Police Station.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Officiating chair Rajendra Agarwal recalls the chain of events

In describing the sequence of events, BJP MP Rajendra Agarwal, who was in the chair at the time of the incident, indicated that the invaders chanted some chants but could not be heard well.

“I initially thought that one of them has tipped over and fell by mistake, but one of them was hanging from the railing and fell. They fell into the middle passage and not on any MP,” he said.

Parliament Winter Session 2023 LIVE

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav speaks about the security breach in the Parliament

In response to today’s security breach in Parliament, in which two men entered the Lok Sabha with gas canisters, Samajwadi MP Dimple Yadav remarked, “All those who come here – be it visitors or reporters – they don’t carry tags. So, I think the government should pay attention to this. I think this is a complete security lapse. Anything could have happened inside the Lok Sabha…”