Delhi Assembly security scare: Speaker Vijender Gupta escaped breach by 6 minutes

NEW DELHI: Speaker Vijender Gupta had arrived at his office just six minutes before the security breach at Delhi Assembly on Monday.As part of the plan to explore the availability of land to construct an auditorium for the assembly, Gupta visited the rear side of the premises, where the education department office is located. He then returned and alighted at the porch of the Speaker’s office at 2.05pm.“At 2.11pm, his driver informed that a bouquet had been thrown near his car.The Speaker escaped the breach by just six minutes. Fortunately, he was not in the vehicle at the time of the incident. He had just stepped inside his office chamber for a scheduled meeting related to legislative work,” an official said, adding security protocols will be reviewed after police recommendations.Assembly officials said the Speaker holds several meetings daily as part of legislative functioning, including discussions with MLAs and coordination with senior govt officials. The Speaker also frequently holds meetings with officials related to administrative responsibilities of the assembly secretariat and inter-governmental interactions. There are about 30 assembly committees like Privileges Committee and PAC that function regularly where several MLAs and senior govt officials participate.“We had to cancel some pre-planned meetings. The assembly will continue to function as it has been without being deterred by such breaches,” Gupta told TOI.In the recent past, the Speaker’s office has received several bomb threats. Although most turned to be hoaxes, the incidents triggered security checks and disrupted normal functioning.