Click to play videoNew Delhi: Rarely does the Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, enter into an argument with legislators.
But on Tuesday, he appeared so unconvinced by Home Minister Shivraj Patil's statement on the security issue of the slain JMM MP Sunil Mahato, that he decided to intervene.
The Chair had wanted to know whether Mahato's security was enough and whether as Home Minister, Patil was satisfied with the security provided to Mahato when his threat perception was visibily high.
The Home Minister said: "When he (Mahato) was asked whether the security given to him was adequate, he said it was adequate."
This reply did not seem to satisfy the Chair, who repeatedly asked Patil whether as Home Minister he was satisfied with the security provided to Mahato. But Patil did not give a direct reply to that.
Here's the exchange of words between them.
Shekhawat: I want to know if Mahato was given adequate security.
Patil: The security was given by the State Government.
Shekhawat: You answer me if his security was adequate?
Patil:He had two PSPOs and five commandos. We cannot provide each MP such security.
Shekhawat: I am asking only about Mahato.
Patil: When we asked him, he said it was adequate. I can't argue with you. All I can say is that when we asked him, he said the security was adequate
Dissatisfied with the statement and reply, Opposition BJP members staged a walkout in the middle of Home Minister's reply to a 90-minute discussion on the killing of the JMM leader. The BJP even accused Patil of dealing with the issue in a "casual manner".
Earlier, participating in the discussion, NDA members from the state demanded imposition of President's rule in Jharkhand alleging failure on part of the state government to provide security to the MP.
Observing that Mahato was provided with 'Y' category security with two personal security officers and five commandos, Patil said the district authorities did not have information about JMM leader's programme near Jamshedpur.
Agreeing with members on strengthening the intelligence machinery, the Home Minister said the Centre had asked states to strengthen special branches responsible for collecting intelligence.
He said the Central intelligence only deals with a general direction of possible extremist attacks. The Centre has asked affected states to reach an agreement among themselves in order to ensure better coordination to tackle the situation, he said.
Patil said the issue about offences with ramifications in other parts of the country was pending before the Supreme Court which has asked the Soli Sorabjee Committee to look into it. "We have to crytalise our views on federal crimes," he said.
The Home Minister said families of two policemen killed in the attack would get a monetary benefit of Rs 10 lakh each. Participating in the discussion, members, particularly Digvijay Singh of JD (U) and Yashwant Sinha (BJP), asked Patil why did he not visit the scene.
Indirectly attacking Congress for supporting Chief Minister Madhu Koda, Sinha said those backing the state government should ask themselves whether they were doing justice to the people of Jharkhand.
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