House panel flags security concerns, suggests measures

It said Mann's act in videographing the place had violated security and his explanations were inconsistent and unsatisfactory

A committee of Parliament has said the security breach incident involving the Aam Aadmi Party’s Bhagwant Mann needs to be taken seriously.

In its report, presented on December 8, it says the terrorist attack of December 13, 2001, still haunts MPs. The panel is chaired by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Kirit Somaiya.

It has said Mann’s act in videographing the place had violated security and his explanations were inconsistent and unsatisfactory. “The norms on videography should have statutory backing and be well published,” it has said.

Observing that Parliament receives thousands of visitors, being also a heritage building, the panel said it was a natural desire of people to get photographed inside the complex but the activity needs better regulation. 

“This may be done by establishing safe areas by the security agencies, after being convinced that photography at these spots would not impact security of the complex.”

Noting that banning of mobile phones was not practical, it says the use of such electronic gadgets could be regulated, to avoid photographing the proceedings or of committee meetings in an unauthorised way.

Also, it says, visitors accompanying the lawmakers should not be allowed beyond certain points. “While members get busy in the discharge of their parliamentary duty, the visitors have no option but to roam or hang around the various unrestricted places like corridors or the canteens, with no meaningful purpose.”

Lawmakers should also discourage their visitors from carrying mobile phones, it says.

On vehicles entering the premises, the panel said though no vehicle can enter without a valid pass, there is no system to check what is inside. Members and their drivers should ensure no banned articles get inside the complex in the vehicles.

The committee says there’s also a need to create a security buffer zone around the sprawling premises, where only visitors and vehicles with passes are allowed. It wants installation of car scanners and face recognition software, wherein alarm and sensors should automatically trigger in any mismatch with available data.