In a shocking turn of events on the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, Lok Sabha witnessed a major security breach as two individuals entered the premises on Wednesday. The perpetrators, seated in the visitors' gallery, unleashed yellow-colored smoke canisters, raising alarm and chaos within the parliamentary chamber.
Television footage captured the intruders jumping from desk to desk, seemingly headed towards the Well of the House. Chanting slogans against dictatorship, the protesters were detained shortly after their disruptive entry.
BJP MP Rajendra Agarwal, presiding over the House proceedings, recounted witnessing one person falling from the visitors' gallery, while another jumped on desks, emitting smoke from canisters concealed in their shoes. The identity of these individuals remains undisclosed by security agencies.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram expressed concern that the yellow smoke could have been poisonous, emphasizing the severity of the security breach on such a significant date. The incident occurred during Zero Hour at 1:02 pm, prompting a temporary halt in proceedings.
CCTV footage from the Lok Sabha revealed one man evading capture by leaping across desks, while the second sprayed smoke in the visitors' gallery. Both were eventually subdued by MPs and security staff. The House resumed at 2 pm, with Speaker Om Birla assuring an investigation, calling in Delhi Police to join the inquiry.
Shocking visuals shared by news agency ANI captured the chaos unfolding in Lok Sabha, with shouts of "catch him, catch him" interrupting a reading by a Lok Sabha official. Prominent figures, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Anupriya Patel, were present during the incident.
Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay described the breach as a "terrible experience," highlighting the unpredictability of the attackers' motives. Two additional individuals, a man and a woman, were detained outside Parliament, further intensifying concerns about security protocols.
The incident also coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu leading a tribute to the victims of the 2001 Parliament attack, adding to the gravity of the security lapse. Serious questions are now being raised about the effectiveness of security measures in place. The Lok Sabha speaker assured MPs that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the objectives and affiliations of the intruders.
