Pratap Simha’s Visitor Pass Scandal: On the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 attack on India’s Parliament, the nation witnessed a shocking breach of security within the hallowed halls of the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session. Four individuals disrupted proceedings by releasing colored smoke canisters and chanting slogans against the dictatorship, causing panic among Members of Parliament (MPs) and raising serious concerns about the vulnerability of the country’s supreme symbol of democracy.
The intrusion unfolded as the individuals, armed with visitor passes, jumped from the public gallery into the Lok Sabha, creating mayhem while the Winter Session was in full swing. The yellow-colored smoke canisters added to the chaos, with the protesters emphasizing their opposition to any form of dictatorship.
The spotlight quickly turned to the question of how such a significant security breach occurred in broad daylight on December 13, captivating the entire nation’s attention. The visitor passes used by two of the intruders were issued in the name of Pratap Simha, a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) representing Mysuru in Karnataka.
Pratap Simha, a 42-year-old MP, has been a prominent figure in Karnataka politics, winning the Mysuru constituency with 43.46 percent of votes in 2014 and increasing his vote share to 52.27 percent in the 2019 elections. A former journalist, Simha gained recognition for his columns and authored a biography of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2007. Born into a farming family, Simha has expressed admiration for PM Modi.
The scrutiny of the visitor pass revealed that it was the same pass shared by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Danish Ali, who was recently suspended by then-President Mayawati. This pass granted access to the Lok Sabha for the intruders, sparking questions about the security protocols in place.
One of the intruders, Manoranjan D, a Mysuru-based engineer known to Pratap Simha, reportedly frequented the MP’s office. He, along with his friend Sagar Sharma, managed to obtain three passes from Simha’s office by stating their interest in viewing the new Indian Parliament building.
In response to the controversy, Pratap Simha’s office defended the MP, stating that such requests from constituents are commonly entertained by MPs. The incident raises critical questions about security measures in the Indian Parliament and highlights the delicate balance between public accessibility and the safeguarding of democratic institutions. As investigations unfold, the breach on this significant anniversary serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in securing the heart of India’s democracy.
