Upset over being stopped on roads for more than the stipulated five minutes during VIP movements, Rajya Sabha members on Wednesday raised the issue in the House. The members claimed Delhi police breaches the five-minute time limit set for the route restrictions and blocks roads for a longer time. The issue was raised as soon as the MPs gathered for the post-lunch session in the House.
“We are stopped as if we are peons. The way they talk to us is also not appropriate during the VIP route restrictions. This VIP route culture is not prevalent anywhere in the world. We strongly object to the way VVIP route restrictions are imposed. We have to wait for 10 to 15 minutes during VIP route restrictions,” said Naresh Aggarwal of Samajwadi Party while adding that this is happening while BJP Chief Ministers are preaching that the Ministers would not use red beacons on their cars.
Aggarwal’s party colleague Ram Gopal Yadav made a point by saying that senior BJP leader lK Advani himself had raised this issue earlier and it was decided that nobody would be stopped for more than five minutes (during VIP route restrictions). “I was in the House that time,” Yadav said.
Opposition’s leader of the House Ghulam Nabi Azad said there the time limit of VVIP movement has to be carefully adhered and all roads should not be closed during such movement. He added only one route should be secured for the VIP leaving rest open for smooth traffic movement.
Congress leader Anand Sharma said “They close three roads at the same time for one VVIP. I have waited for about 17 minutes during a VIP route restriction when I was on my way to Parliament to attend the joint sessions earlier this year. We have seen traffic police for the first time in the Parliament premise. You have the ‘watch and ward’ staff. There should be some way to deal with the situation as MPs have to attend the Parliament sessions.”
Commenting on the issue, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said that while the VVIP security is of utmost importance and should not be compromised at all, things should be done in such a way that it creates least impediments to the MPs.
Defending the Govern-
ment, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said “Members should appreciate that the security arrangements are made in view of the Parliament attack. This issue should not be taken up as special privilege.”
