In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, two persons jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery and opened canisters that emitted a yellow-coloured smoke, triggering panic among the MPs. The House was adjourned soon after the incident.
The two intruders jumped from public gallery number four at around 1 pm when the Zero hour was in progress. They also shouted slogans like ‘tanashahi nahi chalegi’ (dictatorship will not be allowed). Outside the Parliament also, two persons, including a woman, were detained for protesting using cans that released colour smoke, police said.
Narrating the LS incident, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “One person was seen leaping over the benches of the Lok Sabha while another was seen dangling from the public gallery spraying some tear gas when Zero Hour was in progress.” They were overpowered by the Lok Sabha members and the watch and ward staff.
BJP member Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the chair, adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm.
“This is certainly a security breach because today we observed the death anniversary of people who sacrificed their lives in the 2001 (Parliament attack),” Chowdhury said.
In a post on X, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said, “Saw two young men unleash foul smelling yellow coloured gas from canisters inside Parliament gallery. MPs rushed to grab these men. One person was raising some slogans. This raises serious questions on another aspect of the new Parliament building- security.” The two persons, detained for the protest outside the Parliament are identified as—identified as Neelam (42) and Amol Shinde (25), police officials said, adding that further probe is underway.
Saw two young men unleash foul smelling yellow coloured gas from canisters inside Parliament gallery. MPs rushed to grab these men. One person was raising some slogans. This raises serious questions on another aspect of the new Parliament building- security.
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) December 13, 2023
Most MPs are still in shock and discussing how two persons entered the Parliament with a cigarette lighter and gas canister. Many security personnel and police commandos were totally unaware even after MPs had apprehended and detained the two suspects for an extended period.
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) December 13, 2023
Security has been beefed up in the area following the incident.
The Congress party has demanded answers from the government and a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah in both houses of Parliament on the “serious security breach” in Lok Sabha, saying does the incident “not prove that necessary precautions were not taken”.
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said the home minister should resign as he failed to ensure the safety of Parliament. “Amit Shah should resign immediately. There is no security planning. The gallery is right above us … ,” he said. “If Parliament security can be breached this way, how can the country be secure?” he asked.
He said the incident could have been more serious and questioned the Union Home Ministry’s functioning.
“It could have been a repeat of the 2001 incident. What is the intelligence department of the home ministry doing? Nothing. The home minister is giving big speeches and cannot even maintain security in Parliament,” Banerjee said.
