In a disconcerting parallel to the 2001 Parliament attack anniversary, two individuals breached Lok Sabha security on Wednesday. Seated in the visitors’ gallery, they discreetly released yellow smoke from canisters concealed in their shoes. Alarming footage captured their advance towards the Well of the House, accompanied by chants of anti-dictatorship slogans like ‘tana shahi nahi chalegi’ before being promptly detained.
Simultaneously, near Transport Bhavan, two more protesters, Amol from Latur (Maharashtra), and Neelam from Hisaar (Haryana), were apprehended. The identities of the Lok Sabha intruders remain undisclosed.
Rajendra Agarwal, BJP MP presiding over proceedings, bore witness to the chaos. He recounted one person falling from the gallery, while another leapt onto desks, releasing smoke. Security personnel acted swiftly, prompting questions about the intruders’ motives and affiliations.
Against this backdrop of heightened concerns, Congress leaders expressed outrage. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, denounced it as a security breach on this solemn anniversary. Karti Chidambaram, Congress MP, sounded the alarm about the yellow smoke, speculating on its potential toxicity. The incident has rekindled debates on parliamentary security measures.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed the Parliament security breach during Zero House, stating, “The incident is under investigation by Lok Sabha and Delhi Police. Preliminary findings indicate that the smoke, initially a cause for concern, is not a significant issue.”
