"Childish" says Trinamool's Tapas Roy after BJP alleges link to Parliament security breach accused

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], December 15 (ANI): Responding to the allegations of Bharatiya Janata Party that Trinamool Congress leader is 'in close association with' Lalit Jha, the so-called mastermind of Parliament security breach, Tapas Roy on Friday said that the charges are 'childish' as he is not acquainted to the Kolkata-based "miscreant" by name or by face.
The TMC leader said that the photograph that the BJP West Bengal chief Sukanta Majumdar posted on his X handle was clicked four years ago.
Taking to his official handle on social media platform X, Majumdar shared a photograph in which the TMC leader is purportedly seen alongside Jha, who has been now arrested in the Parliament security lapse case.
"Lalit Jha, the mastermind of the attack on our Temple of Democracy, had been in close association with TMC's Tapas Roy for a long time... Isn't this proof enough for an investigation into the connivance of the leader?" Majumdar posted from his X handle on Thursday.
Later, Sukanta Majumdar while speaking to ANI said that there should be an inquiry if there is a large conspiracy.
"Question is the same - what is the connection?... There are several photos of TMC and Congress leaders with the mastermind...It seems he has good coordination with the INDI Alliance. So there should be an inquiry if there is a large conspiracy," he said.
Responding to this, Tapas Roy said, "What can you prove by a photograph? Since they want to cover up their failures and I do not know the miscreant either by name or by face. This is something childish. I came to know the photograph is of 2020's Saraswati Pooja. I am going out right now (too). So, many people will come across and they wish to have a photograph with me. So what could be done? Is there any evidence? any other photographs? No...This Sukanta and others are doing politics with a photograph of mine."
The security breach happened on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack. Two people--Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D--jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted anti-establishment slogans before being overpowered by the MPs. Outside it, in another incident, two protestors -- Neelam (42) and Amol (25) -- protested outside the Parliament with similar gas canisters. However, all four were sent to seven-day custody of Delhi Police Special Cell on Thursday.
Last night, senior police officials, including two Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCP) and Additional Commissioners of Police, interrogated Lalit Jha, during which he narrated the whole incident to officials.
According to sources, during interrogation, it came to light that preparations for the attack were being made months ago. An entry pass was necessary for entry into Parliament; hence, it was not available. Lalit had asked everyone who could arrange the pass so that they could easily enter Parliament.
From a hotel in Rajasthan Lalit was continuously keeping an eye on ongoing developments and police movements through news channels, they said.
According to sources, to unearth more details in the case, the Special Cell of Delhi Police has formed six teams that will go to the locations linked with the accused in Lucknow, Mysore, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Haryana.
The investigation also revealed that two pairs of shoes were made on special order in Lucknow, as the accused discovered that shoes do not get checked in Parliament and this can be an easy way to carry the smoke canister inside the parliament.
Meanwhile, Special Cell will recreate the scene of Wednesday's Parliament security breach by taking the accused to the Parliament complex on Saturday or Sunday, sources said.
According to sources, the accused will be taken to Parliament to recreate the scene of the crime. This will help the police find out how the accused entered the Parliament building with colour spray and how they executed their plan, sources from the Special Cell said. (ANI)