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Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Decode Politics: Kharge up in arms against CISF in RS – why Parliament security was changed?
The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, has strongly objected to the presence of security personnel in the Well of the House, charging that the Opposition MPs were being prevented from raising issues. Kharge wrote a letter to Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh in this regard last week, stating that 'we are astonished and shocked at the manner in which CISF personnel are made to run into the well of the House when the members are exercising their democratic rights of protest'. Congress general secretary and its chief whip in the Rajya Sabha, Jairam Ramesh, alleged that 'after the sudden and unprecedented resignation of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Jagdeep Dhankhar), we are now seeing the takeover of the chamber of the Council of States by the personnel of the CISF'. TMC Leader in the Rajya Sabha, Derek O'Brien, said the incident was 'unprecedented', and accused the NDA government of being 'scared' of discussing in the House the Election Commission (EC)'s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. In May 2024, the Parliament Security Service (PSS) was replaced by the CISF, a Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) which comes under the Union Home Ministry. In June last year, DMK Rajya Sabha MP M Mohamed Abdulla had complained to then Chairman Dhankhar about 'unprecedented misbehaviour' by the CISF personnel who had allegedly 'questioned [him] on the purpose of [his] visit' to the Parliament complex on June 18. Security responsibilities in the Parliament complex had been with the PSS and the almost-100-year-old Watch and Ward committee. They had the training and experience required for the specialised job of securing a complex that is packed, when Parliament is in session, with almost 800 MPs, dignitaries, officials, and media personnel with sensitivity and competence. Several MPs had expressed apprehension when this job passed to an armed force that was originally raised 'for the better protection and security of industrial undertakings'. The change was prompted by an extraordinary breach of security at Parliament House on December 13, 2023, when two men jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors' gallery and set off a smoke canister. In April 2024, the CISF personnel replaced the 150 personnel of the Delhi Police who were deployed at the complex alongside the PSS. On May 13, 2024, the office of the Joint Secretary (Security), who heads the PSS, issued an order saying that a letter had been received from the DIG, CISF, that certain duties and facilities 'may be handed over to the CISF' by specified dates up to May 20. This included the checking of passes at the flap gates of all buildings in the complex and anti-sabotage checks; handing over of the dogs of the Dog Squad and control of CCTV control rooms; and control of vehicular access through Parliament's gates. The CISF's letter came days after the Home Ministry had appointed a seven-member panel to assess whether the CISF should take over all aspects of security in the Parliament complex — from managing security arrangements to issuing passes, to regulating the movement of MPs, VIPs, officials, and the media. This committee, headed by CISF DIG Ajay Kumar, was asked to submit its view 'at the earliest'. The CISF is now responsible for the Central Pass Issuing Cell (CPIC) for both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha to issue radio frequency tags for vehicles and verify the character and antecedents of applicants. It also oversees access regulation for MPs, VIPs, senior government functionaries, positioning of staff at the various gates; regulation and coordination of VIP movement inside the complex; regulation of movement of stores in and out of the complex; maintenance of order in the complex, access control in the lobbies and movement regulation and discipline in the public galleries and press gallery; reception office, issue of temporary passes, and operation of gadgets in the complex; coordination with other security agencies, security arrangements during meetings and conferences, rehearsal of drills, security arrangements during Presidential addresses; Presidential and Vice- Presidential elections; and assistance and protection to the Chair. Sources said the CISF is also in charge of security in lobbies, which include the chambers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and the main reception. The Watch and Ward Committee was set up on the initiative of Vithalbhai Patel, who was then president (equivalent to today's Speaker) of the Central Legislative Assembly, the lower house of legislature of British India. This followed the incident of April 8, 1929, when revolutionaries Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw two bombs and pamphlets in the Central Assembly and raised slogans 'to make the deaf hear'. According to an official document of Parliament, 'this incident underlined the need for an exclusive and effective security arrangement for the Assembly' and, on September 3 that year, Patel constituted a committee 'to formulate a scheme for creating a security service exclusively for the Central Legislative Assembly'. The committee opined that a 'security service should be created immediately to protect and guard the inner precincts of the Parliament House and to keep a vigil/ watch on the unauthorized activities inside Parliament'. The committee named this organisation 'Watch and Ward'. The name continued until April 15, 2009, when it was changed to Parliament Security Service. According to the Sectional Manual of Office Procedure published by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, 'the main responsibility of Parliament Security Service is to provide and maintain Pro-active, Preventive and Protective Security measures within the Parliament House Complex, for safeguarding Members of Parliament, visitors and employees'. The PSS personnel were credited with foiling the December 13, 2001 attack on Parliament. Two PSS personnel — Matbar Singh Negi and Jagdish Prasad Yadav — were killed, along with six Delhi Police personnel and a gardener in this attack. Responding to the issue flagged by the Opposition members, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that some MPs moved 'aggressively' in the House to prevent its proceedings, prompting marshals to prevent them as he asserted that it is not the government but for the respective Chair of the two Houses to take measures he deems fit. Rijiju said the CISF personnel are part of the security apparatus after the incident of two intruders jumping into Lok Sabha and opening smoke canisters, adding that there have been cases of MPs even jumping over the secretariat table within the House. He said he is eliciting information from the Rajya Sabha as to what happened exactly and assured the Opposition that he will consult the Chair if they have any issue. Nothing will be done that comes in the way of MPs using their privilege or taking up their issues but they also have no right to prevent others from speaking and snatching the rights of other members, Rijiju said. Asked about Kharge's objections to the presence of CISF, the minister said that the security system has been updated after 'some ugly incidents'. He said: 'Certain decisions were taken. The administrative mechanism within the premises of Parliament is not under the government of India so I cannot exactly comment on what should be done.'
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
TDB drops paid Vallasadya plan
Kottayam: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has withdrawn its decision to introduce a paid Vallasadya at the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple following strong opposition from the Palliyoda Seva Sanghom (PSS). As a result, the Vallasadya scheduled for Sunday was cancelled. The Vallasadya is a traditional vegetarian feast featuring 64 dishes served on plantain leaves. The board announced that the Rs 250 paid by each devotee who had booked the feast would be refunded. Facing increasing protests over the paid model, the board made a final attempt to resolve the issue on Friday by inviting PSS office-bearers for a meeting at its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. However, the discussion failed to make headway due to the PSS's unwavering stance. The move to introduce paid Vallasadya was first announced by the board on July 16. It stated that devotees could book coupons in advance through the Aranmula devaswom administrative office or by phone. The plan was to hold the feast only on Sundays during the Vallasadya season. However, PSS strongly objected, accusing the board of attempting to commercialise a sacred tradition. the board denied any intent to commercialise the ritual, claiming the plan was simply meant to popularise the revered tradition. TNN Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
The Hindu
02-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
TDB withdraws from Vallasadya amid protests, Palliyoda Seva Sangham to continue paid feast
The controversy surrounding the conduct of Vallasadya, a ritualistic feast offered at the Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy temple, has come to a close for the time being with the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) withdrawing its decision to organise the event through its own booking system. Confirming the move, TDB president P.S. Prasanth said that all bookings made through the board for the feast to be held on Sunday had been cancelled with immediate effect. 'As the authority responsible for administering the temple, the board does not wish to turn Aranmula into a site of discord. We have therefore decided to cancel the programme,' he said. Meanwhile, the Palliyoda Seva Sangham (PSS) will proceed with its paid feast for participants of the KSRTC Budget Tourism Cell's package tours.'Due to limited seat availability, online booking for the special pass (paid sadya) has been suspended for this month. Bookings for September will begin by mid-August,' informed K.V. Sambadevan, president of the PSS, in a statement. Strong protests The board's earlier decision to conduct Vallasadya within the temple premises without involving the traditional Palliyodams and while collecting money from devotees had sparked strong protests from the PSS. Tensions escalated when members of the PSS staged a protest inside the temple as guests under the TDB's scheme began arriving. A last-ditch effort by the devaswom board to hold a conciliatory meeting on Friday also failed, after the PSS boycotted the talks citing that some of their representatives were denied entry. The board, however, maintained that it had not barred anyone, but merely asked to restrict participation to the permitted number of delegates. 'We had already accepted bookings for Sunday and requested the PSS to accommodate our guests at the auditorium outside the temple for one last time,' said a board official. 'However, the PSS was unwilling to relent. To avoid any disturbances inside the temple, the board has decided to cancel the package altogether,' he added. Grand feast Vallasadya is a revered tradition in Aranmula, wherein a grand feast is offered to Lord Parthasarathy and served ceremonially to the oarsmen of Palliyodams, ornate snake boats that arrive from various villages along the Pampa river. The oarsmen are ritually welcomed at the temple ghats and then led inside for the feast. Currently, devotees wishing to sponsor a Vallasadya must do so through the PSS office after obtaining approval from one of the 52 Palliyodams participating in the tradition.
New Indian Express
02-08-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Strict quality norms stall black gram procurement in Thanjavur despite 2,500-tonne target
THANJAVUR: Despite setting a target of procuring 2,500 tonnes of black gram under the price support scheme (PSS), regulated markets in the district didn't procure a single kilogram of the pulse crop during the stipulated 90-day period that ended on June 29. While farmers blame the 'high' quality parameters for their harvest going unsold, officials suspect the poor quality seeds the former buy led to the situation. According to officials of the agriculture and farmers' welfare department, around 12,000 hectares in the district came under black gram cultivation during the rice-fallow season that commenced in January 2025. To help farmers avoid distress sales of their crop, which they commenced harvesting in April, the Thanjavur district marketing committee had made arrangements from April 1 to procure the pulse crop at the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 74/kg at the regulated markets functioning at Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Papanasam and Orathanadu. During the 90-day procurement period that ended on June 29, not a single kg of black gram, however, was procured under the PSS scheme which was implemented by the state agricultural marketing and agriculture business department on behalf of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED). When contacted the officials overseeing the regulated markets said the quality parameters fixed by the NAFED are 'very high'.
New Indian Express
30-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Row erupts over paid 'Vallasadya' at Aranmula temple; PSS accuses TDB of breaching ritual norms
PATHANAMTHITTA: Amid the controversy at Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy Temple over the Travancore Devaswom Board's (TDB) launch of a paid version of the traditional Vallasadya-a ceremonial temple feast -the Palliyoda Seva Sangham (PSS), which denounced the move as a breach of long-standing temple customs, remains steadfast in its opposition. The TDB's Vallasadya, priced at Rs 250 per head, is being offered to devotees who book in advance. Coupons for the feast can also be availed online. As of now, the feast is scheduled exclusively on Sundays. However, the PSS, which traditionally oversees the conduct of the Vallasadya, has strongly objected to the Board's move. "Palliyoda Seva Sangham has no involvement whatsoever in the Vallasadyas proposed by the Devaswom Board. This is a serious breach of ritualistic norms," K V Sambadevan, president of the PSS, told TNIE. He cited a Kerala High Court order which mandates that any decision related to the Vallasadya must be taken jointly by a committee comprising representatives of both the PSS and the TDB. "Selling food coupons in the name of Vallasadya without the participation of Palliyodams is tantamount to commercialising the ritual," he added. In protest, PSS activists had recently marched to the office of the Devaswom Assistant Commissioner singing Vanchipattu, the traditional boat song, demanding that the ritual be conducted only in the presence of snake boats. "If the Board is determined to override ritual norms and hold Vallasadya for money, the Sangham will intensify its agitation," Sambadevan warned. Considering the devotees reaching from faraway places, he also said the normal feast can be booked through the PSS website, clarifying that they are 'paid feasts' and not Vallasadhya.
