Parliament rocked over withdrawal of NSG cover to Mayawati

The proposal to withdraw NSG security cover to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati rocked Parliament today, disrupting Question Hour and leading to adjournment of both the Houses.

As soon as Lok Sabha assembled, 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, 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 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 this 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 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.