After the major security breach in the Lok Sabha, in which two men carrying smoke canisters jumped into the chamber of the House from the visitors’ gallery, BSP MP Danish Ali told NDTV that at least one of the passes recovered after the attack had been issued by BJP MP Prathap Simha’s office. 

Sources have also confirmed to NDTV that both men who jumped into the chamber were given visitors’ passes by Mr Simha. 

Expressing shock at the breach, several Members of Parliament said visitors have to clear five levels of security before entering the complex and that signatures from the office of an MP are needed for a pass to the visitors’ gallery. The breach took place 22 years after the attack on Parliament in 2001.

Prathap Simha is an MP from Mysore in Karnataka and, according to the police, at least one of the men who jumped into the chamber is linked to his constituency. Manoranjan D, 35, is a Bachelor of Engineering graduate from Mysore Vivekanand University in Bengaluru and his father stays in Mysore’s Vijaynagar. 

Mr Simha had won from the Mysore constituency with 43.46% of votes in 2014 and increased his vote share to 52.27% in the 2019 elections. The 42-year-old is a former journalist and is well-known for a series of columns. He also wrote a biography of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2007. 

The son of a farmer, the MP had earlier said that he idolises PM Modi.

Around 1 pm today, Manoranjan D and Sagar Sharma jumped from the visitors’ gallery into the chamber of the Lok Sabha. Footage showed Sagar jumping over desks and heading towards the Speaker’s chair, while Manoranjan sprayed yellowish smoke from one of the canisters. 

A man and a woman, identified as Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi, were also detained outside Parliament with coloured smoke canisters.

Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar, known for directing acclaimed films like Talvar, Raazi, and the recent Sam Bahadur, marks her 50th birthday today. Social media is flooded with birthday wishes for her, including a special post from Sam Bahadur star Vicky Kaushal. Alongside his birthday wishes, he shared an unseen video of them dancing together on Instagram.

Sharing the video, Vicky wrote, “Here’s a little birthday dance with you Meghna… wish I could do it in person today! Everyday on set I’d try to be the most hard working person and everyday you’d beat me and everybody else to it. Will keep trying though… Happy Happy Birthday Sweetie… may you always keep inspiring people around you to give their absolute best!!! @meghnagulzar.”

The video features Vicky Kaushal dressed as Sam Manekshaw, dancing with Meghna Gulzar inside a lit up gazebo, who appears a bit shy but manages to join in the dance.

Sam Bahadur chronicles the life of India’s first Field Marshal, Sam Manekshaw. With a military career spanning over four decades and participation in five wars, he achieved the distinction of becoming the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. Notably, his strategic leadership during the 1971 Indo-Pak war resulted in a significant military victory, leading to the creation of Bangladesh.

See Also: Meghna Gulzar to team up with Sidharth Malhotra for her next