Under fire for allegedly granting passes to the two men who fired smoke canisters in the Parliament, BJP MP Pratap Simha on Sunday said that people will ultimately decide whether he is a patriot or traitor during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The two-time BJP Lok Sabha member from Mysore-Kodagu Lok Sabha constituency didn’t divulge any other details over the incident or the probe.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, while responding to a question on posters that were put up calling him a “traitor”, the journalist-turned-politician further said, “They (people) are the ones who have to ultimately give the judgment. They will decide whether I’m a patriot. I leave it to their decision. I don’t have anything to say other than that.”
On December 13, two protesters had jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber when the Winter Session of Parliament was underway and set off smoke canisters before being overpowered by the MPs. They had allegedly the new Parliament on passes issued on the recommendation of Simha’s office.
The Congress and some organisations had staged a protest against Simha, following the incident.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday had said the statement of Simha has been recorded as part of the probe in the December 13 incident, which coincided with the 2001 Parliament terror attack day.
When asked over the incident or the statements to police, Simha said, “I have said whatever I have to. I don’t have anything else to say on this.”