Following the breach in Lok Sabha security, Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Sandhwan has responded with seriousness, directing the Punjab Police and assembly staff to guarantee absolute security measures at the Assembly premises.
Since the Lok Sabha incident involved unauthorized entry through visitor passes, the Punjab Assembly is considering digitally recording visitor data and adding photos to passes.
Previously, during Assembly sessions, an MLA could obtain passes for two individuals in a day to witness the proceedings. The MLA would apply, specifying the individuals attending, and upon approval, passes were issued allowing entry based on any identification document.
Adding photos to passes is under consideration to ensure that the pass holder is the one entering the Assembly. It’s worth noting that the Punjab Assembly gallery can accommodate up to 100 people.
Furthermore, after the Lok Sabha incident, the issue of the barbed wire fence behind the Assembly facing the village has resurfaced. This wire has broken at several points.
The Punjab Assembly building has heritage status. The Chandigarh administration has received approximately seven letters in the past five years concerning this issue, but no attention has been paid in that direction. The maintenance of the Punjab Assembly falls under the Chandigarh administration’s responsibility.
Covering a distance of around four kilometers from the Punjab Assembly to the High Court, the area is covered with barbed wire. Due to poor maintenance of this wire, it has broken in several places. Speaker Kultar Sandhwan has directed all relevant departments, including the Punjab Police, to strengthen the Assembly’s security.
The security of the Parliament was severely compromised on Wednesday, the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Parliament. Amid the ongoing proceedings, two individuals present in the visitor’s gallery jumped inside the Lok Sabha and created a ruckus. They also released tear gas, filling the entire Parliament with smoke. The young men jumped onto the benches of the assembly and sprayed something from a shoe, causing yellow smoke to spread in the chamber. Chaos erupted throughout the premises.
