CISF replaces the Delhi Police for Parliament security in the aftermath of the breach

Following the massive Parliament security breach, the government has announced that the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will now be responsible for safeguarding access to the Parliament complex. The change is set to be implemented following a comprehensive security assessment initiated by the Home Ministry in the aftermath of the Parliament scare.

The Home Ministry issued a notification on Wednesday which replaces the Delhi Police with the CISF assuming all associated duties, including the screening of entrants. The Lok Sabha secretariat will continue to be responsible for the security within the complex, and the outer perimeter will be guarded by the Delhi police.

The government has swiftly implemented enhanced protocols for accessing the Parliament complex, restricting entry for visitors and non-essential staff. Distinct entrances have been assigned for Members of Parliament (MPs) and their staff, while the press, albeit temporarily banned, was directed to use a third gate. As an additional security measure, the visitors' gallery will be enclosed in glass to prevent individuals from jumping into the House chamber. Moreover, body scan machines, similar to those employed in airports, will be installed for added security screening.

On December 13, the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attacks, two intruders stormed into the Lok Sabha, one of them jumped into the chamber from the visitors’ gallery, passes to which were issued on the behest of BJP MP Pratap Simha. The miscreants entered the lower house and deployed colored smoke bombs, ushering in chaos and panic before one of them was pinned down to the ground by some MPs and then later handed over to the police. At the same time, two others released colored smoke bombs outside the Parliament. All four of the intruders have been arrested by the Delhi Police, who have formed a special investigating team that is now investigating the security breach.

The Opposition MPs have been ever since been rallying around their demand for accountability from the Government for the December 13th Parliament scare. They have been persistent over their demand for a statement from the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the floor of the house; the political showdown has resulted in the suspension of 143 Opposition MPs for alleged “misconduct” on the floor of the house.

The CISF, known for providing “integrated security cover to sensitive public sector undertakings”, currently oversees the security of more than 350 locations, including airports and nuclear facilities.