Two individuals created chaos in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday by jumping into the chamber from the public gallery. Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury reported that the intruders were carrying tear gas canisters. The incident occurred during Zero Hour proceedings.
While one person was seen leaping over the benches in the Lok Sabha, another was observed dangling from the public gallery, spraying tear gas. The Lok Sabha members and watch and ward staff promptly overpowered the intruders. In response to the security breach, BJP member Rajendra Agrawal, who was presiding over the session, adjourned the proceedings until 2 pm.
Ministers react
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram highlighted the severity of the breach, emphasising the potential danger associated with the smoke emitted from the canisters. He stated, "Suddenly two young men around 20 years old jumped into the House from the visitor's gallery and had canisters in their hand. These canisters were emitting yellow smoke.
One of them was attempting to run towards the Speaker's chair. They were shouting some slogans. The smoke could have been poisonous. This is a serious breach of security, especially on 13th December, the day when Parliament was attacked in 2001." The incident has ignited discussions about reinforcing security measures to prevent such breaches in the future.
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, in a post on X, shared details of the incident. He witnessed two young men releasing foul-smelling yellow-colored gas from canisters inside the Parliament gallery. MPs rushed to apprehend the intruders, and one person was heard raising slogans. Gogoi's statement raised serious questions about the security aspects of the new Parliament building.
MP Danish Ali provided an account of the incident, stating, "Two people jumped from the public gallery, and there was smoke. There was chaos all around. Both of them were overpowered by security officials."
Delhi Police probing
The Delhi Police are conducting initial questioning related to the security breach and are actively trying to determine if there is any connection between the detained individuals and those who jumped inside Parliament. Multi-agency questioning is also anticipated as part of the comprehensive investigation.
DCP New Delhi clarified, "As of now, we don’t have any information concerning those detained inside." The incident has raised concerns about the security protocols in place, especially given its occurrence on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack.
The disruption raised concerns about the security lapse, especially on the day marking the death anniversary of those who sacrificed their lives in the 2001 Parliament attack. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury emphasised the need for a thorough review of security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The episode underscores the critical importance of maintaining the security and sanctity of parliamentary proceedings. Authorities are likely to conduct an investigation into the breach, aiming to identify any lapses in the existing security framework and implement corrective measures. The incident will likely prompt discussions on enhancing security protocols to ensure the safety of elected representatives and the integrity of the parliamentary process.
The incident raises questions about the need for a comprehensive review of security protocols within the Parliament complex to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
