Parliamentary Panel Blocks Discussion on Deadly Delhi Blast
A crucial parliamentary committee has declined to address the devastating car explosion that claimed twelve lives near Delhi's historic Red Fort, sparking concerns about parliamentary accountability and national security oversight.
The parliamentary standing committee on home affairs, during its Wednesday meeting, refused to take up discussions regarding the fatal incident that occurred mere meters from one of India's most iconic monuments.
Meeting Controversy and Chairperson's Decision
According to sources quoted by PTI, the committee chairperson Radha Mohan Das Agarwal rejected requests to discuss the explosion and prevented any suo motu statements on the matter. The decision came despite the blast raising serious questions about potential intelligence failures that allowed such an incident to occur in the heart of the national capital.
A member present confirmed that a parliamentarian from All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) attempted to raise the issue of the explosion and associated security lapses in Delhi. However, the chairperson firmly declined to entertain the discussion, maintaining strict adherence to the meeting's predetermined agenda.
Disaster Management Focus Amid Security Crisis
The meeting had officially listed "disaster management" on its agenda and featured appearances by senior officials from multiple national agencies. Representatives from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the directorate general fire services, civil defence & home guards were present during the session.
Sources indicated that the blast issue was raised within the context of disaster management but was ultimately not taken up for detailed discussion, despite the recent tragedy demonstrating critical security vulnerabilities.
The Tragic Incident and Political Fallout
The controversy follows Monday evening's horrific incident where a powerful explosion ripped through a slow-moving vehicle at a traffic signal near the Red Fort Metro Station. The blast resulted in twelve confirmed fatalities and left numerous individuals injured, triggering heightened security alerts across Delhi and throughout the country.
The parliamentary panel's refusal to permit discussion occurs amid mounting political pressure, with opposition parties demanding a swift and independent inquiry into the incident. Critics have sharply questioned the government's handling of internal security, particularly given the explosion's location at the symbolic heart of the national capital.
The decision to avoid discussing such a significant security breach has raised additional concerns about transparency and accountability in addressing national security threats, leaving many questions unanswered about the circumstances surrounding the deadly explosion.
