In a significant security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, two individuals infiltrated the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Seated in the visitors’ gallery, they unleashed canisters emitting yellow smoke, prompting chaos. Television footage captured them moving across desks and heading towards the Well of the House while chanting slogans like ‘tana shahi nahi chalegi’ (dictatorship won’t be accepted). Detained later, they were identified as Sagar Sharma and an unnamed individual. Two additional protesters, Amol from Latur and Neelam from Hisar, were held near Transport Bhavan. BJP MP Rajendra Agarwal described witnessing one person falling from the gallery and another jumping on desks, releasing smoke from his shoes. Security forces apprehended them, and an investigation is underway. Delhi police noted the breach and the possibility of filing a complaint.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury labeled the incident a security breach, especially on the 2001 attack anniversary. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram expressed concern over the yellow smoke’s potential toxicity. The Lok Sabha session adjourned until 2 pm. Both protesters managed to acquire general visitor passes, despite the standard application process and background checks. They infiltrated the Lok Sabha, violating security measures with smoke canisters. The Parliament security services or CRPF detained the intruders, intending to later transfer them to the police for formal charges. The breach raised questions about the overall security protocol within the Parliament complex.
Chowdhury emphasized the severity of the breach, given the historical significance of December 13, marking the sacrifice of lives in the 2001 attack. The protesters’ motives and affiliations remain under investigation. The incident underscores the need for a thorough review of security measures to prevent future breaches in the high-security parliamentary complex. The safety of lawmakers and the sanctity of parliamentary proceedings must be prioritized to maintain public trust in the democratic process.