‘Designated As Marshals’: Parliament Sources Respond As Kharge Questions Security Presence In House
Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the presence of CISF personnel in the Rajya Sabha during Opposition protests, calling it “undemocratic”.
Sources from the Parliament security on Tuesday stated that personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) had been assigned duties as marshals in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers, clarifying that they were not deployed to hinder any Member of Parliament.
“CISF staff have been designated as marshals for the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers. They were not present in the House to block any MP, but only to perform the responsibilities given to them,” sources clarified.
“Earlier, Parliament security was handled by a different cadre, but currently, the CISF has taken charge of all duties starting from the outer security,” the sources added.
This statement follows Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, condemning the presence of security personnel inside the House. The Opposition termed the move as “highly objectionable and undemocratic”.
In a letter to Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Kharge expressed dismay over the entry of CISF personnel into the Parliament during Opposition protests.
“I want to thank you, sir, for the references you gave us, the ones we didn’t read but were informed about by you,” Kharge wrote.
“I’m writing on behalf of the Opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha. We are shocked and taken aback at the way CISF personnel were made to rush into the well of the House when members were expressing their democratic right to protest,” the letter stated.
“We witnessed this yesterday, and again today. Has our Parliament fallen to such a state?” he questioned.
“This is extremely objectionable, and we strongly denounce it. We expect that in future, CISF personnel will not come marching into the well of the House when members are raising key public issues,” he added.
Kharge also referred to past statements by late leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj when they were Leaders of the Opposition, reminding that both had defended disruptions as part of a healthy “democratic process”.
“We are protesting through democratic means, and we shall continue to do so. It is our rightful prerogative,” Kharge asserted.
Responding to the criticism, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh denied Kharge’s claims, stating that those deployed were not CISF personnel but belonged to the Parliament Security Service (PSS).
“I wish to clarify that only the Parliament Security Service has the authority to enter the House when needed. No CISF personnel were present,” the Deputy Chairman said in the House.
However, Kharge remained firm on his stance, stating, “I condemn this. You may expel us from the proceedings.”
KHARGE QUESTIONS IF HOUSE IS BEING CONTROLLED BY AMIT SHAH
As the discussion continued, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Kharge of “misleading” the House and demanded clarification from the Congress leader regarding his letter to the Deputy Chairman.
In response, Kharge questioned whether the Chairman or Union Home Minister Amit Shah was controlling the House proceedings.
“Even our past leaders have accepted that disruptions are part of a democracy. But I ask you today, sir (Chair), who is actually running this House— you or the Union Home Minister Amit Shah?” Kharge asked.
The face-off comes amid intensified opposition protests on several issues, with the well of the House increasingly becoming the centre of confrontations.
