The intrusion on Wednesday into the Lok Sabha on the anniversary of the 13 December, 2001 parliamentary attack is an example of how freedoms are lost. People are allowed to visit the institution to see for themselves how proceedings are conducted. The privilege is granted by a visitor’s pass provided by an MP. It has been open to misuse over the years in many parliaments across the world. Often the causes are legitimate, or just reflect personal grievances. It may be recalled that Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw two bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi in April 1929 in support of the demand for Independence, which is lauded by all given the context.
The present act, carried out in the House by two persons, with two collaborators outside Parliament, was fortunately symbolic, with smoke bombs being smuggled in and exploded. Whatever the reason for the protest and the choice of the day, what will result is that the citizen’s right to watch parliamentary proceedings will be further curtailed. It is a certainty that the visitors’ gallery and the House will be separated by putting up a bullet-proof glass partition. In the short-term, till security protocols are worked out, there will likely be a ban on visitors.
It will be recalled by media persons and others that, in the Uttarakhand State Assembly, there used to be no partition between the House and the press gallery. However, over time, conversations began to be held between reporters and members, even exchange of papers, during conduct of proceedings. Eventually, a glass partition was put up, curtailing even the legitimate interactions that took place during breaks. A privilege and a freedom lost.
Security protocols are very strict in Parliament to ensure nobody gets in with any kind of weapon. However, as became evident on Wednesday, they are not good enough to prevent smuggling in of material that will not trigger the scanners. In the present day, there are extremely dangerous chemicals that can be used to harm people that also need to be watched out for. This incident should be taken as a blessing in disguise in that it has awakened the system to this danger. Physical checks do not include making people take off their shoes, which will become mandatory now.
Sadly, at a time when it has become woke to pursue any itsy-bitsy cause in disproportionate manner, the access to Parliament will become another freedom lost.
