In the recent security breach at Parliament, two individuals entered the Lok Sabha chamber, releasing yellow smoke. Startlingly, they carried authorization passes issued by BJP MP Pratap Simha. Manoranjan D, one of the accused, introduced co-accused Sagar Sharma as a friend to the MP’s office, securing passes under the pretext of observing parliamentary proceedings. Manoranjan D had pursued Simha and his office for over three months, as reported by PTI.
The issuance of visitor passes for Parliament falls under Rule 386 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. This rule governs the “admission, withdrawal, and removal of strangers” during parliamentary sittings. It stipulates that admission of strangers to non-reserved areas is regulated according to orders made by the Speaker.
As outlined in “Practice and Procedure of Parliament” by M N Kaul and S L Shakdher, members can apply for visitor passes only for individuals well-known to them personally. Additionally, a certificate must accompany the application, stating that the visitor is a relative, personal friend, or someone known personally to the MP. Members are explicitly advised to bear responsibility for any untoward incidents involving pass holders.
In the case of Manoranjan D, his father emphasized their good relationship with Pratap Simha, their local MP, justifying their pass request.
Who is Pratap Simha?
Pratap Simha represents Mysore-Kodagu in the Lok Sabha and assumed office in 2014. A former journalist in Kannada publications, he served as the president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. Simha’s tenure has been marked by controversies and political spats within the BJP in Karnataka.
His involvement in issues ranging from corruption allegations to controversial statements has garnered attention. Simha accused BJP governments of inaction on corruption allegations against opposition leaders and, at times, expressed contentious views on subjects like stray dog elimination.
