Parliament rocked over withdrawal of NSG cover to Mayawati

New Delhi, Jul 23 (PTI) The proposal to withdraw National
Security Guard (NSG) security cover to Chief Minister of
eastern state of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati, rocked Parliament
on Thursday, disrupting Question Hour and leading to
adjournment of both the Houses.

As soon as Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament)
assembled, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) members trooped into
the well protesting the Home Ministry proposal and shouted
slogans. They alleged that such moves were part of "a
conspiracy" to get the leaders killed.

Speaker Meira Kumar repeatedly tried to pacify them and
then adjourned the House till 1130 hours.

In the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament),
BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra raised the issue
vociferously, alleging that the President of a national party
was "not secure".

He got support from an unexpected quarter with Samajwadi
Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav also raising the issue and
protesting the reported plan to withdraw security.

As the two leaders and their party members continued to
attack the government, Minister of State for Parliamentary
Affairs Prithviraj Chavan said he had discussed the matter
with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram who told him that no
such proposal had come before him. "The review is routine. It
is being done for the last 15 years," Chavan said.

As the din continued, an upset Chairman Hamid Ansari said
"This is an extraordinary example of indiscipline in the
House. The rights of members are being violated. I have no
option but to adjourn." He then adjourned the House till noon.

Rajya Sabha Secretariat sources said after BSP members
approached the Chairman Thursday morning seeking to raise the
issue in the House, Ansari asked the government to make a
statement on it.

After Rajya Sabha adjourned, BSP and SP members were seen
approaching Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was
present in the House, apparently to discuss the issue.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Lok Sabha when it
reassembled at 1130 hrs and the House was adjourned till noon
despite Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee saying that no
such decision has been taken so far.

"I checked up the position with the Home Minister. He has
assured me and informed me that no report of the review
committee has been received. This exercise is done
periodically and does not mean that government has taken a
decision," Mukherjee said.

He also assured the House that the government will decide
after taking into account all considerations of the members.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj
raised the issue of proposed downgrading of security to a
senior party leader Murli Manohar Joshi.

She said since Joshi undertook 'Ekta Yatra' to Jammu and
Kashmir against terrorism, he has been facing threat to his
life and expressed concern over reports that his security may
be downgraded.

Amid the uproar created by BSP and BJP members, the Lok
Sabha was adjourned for the second time.

Reports have said that a recommendation was made at a
high-level meeting of the Home Ministry to withdraw NSG
security of some VIPs including Mayawati and downgrading the
cover for several other dignitaries.

The National Security Guards (NSG) cover for former
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, Samajwadi
Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and BJP leader Murli Manohar
Joshi was also likely to be withdrawn, the reports had said.

The recommendations were made at a meeting chaired by
Home Secretary G K Pillai. PTI