A disturbing breach in Parliament's security unfolded during Zero Hour on Wednesday afternoon, as two men carrying canisters emitting yellow smoke breached the sanctity of the Lok Sabha. In a shocking turn of events, these individuals leaped from the visitors' gallery into the Lok Sabha chamber, inciting chaos. CCTV footage captured the frantic scene as one man dashed across desks in an attempt to evade capture while the other discharged smoke in the gallery. Swift action from MPs and security personnel led to their apprehension, but not without a moment of pandemonium within the chamber.
The Lower House, understandably rattled, was adjourned till the following day after Speaker Om Birla assured an investigation with the involvement of the Delhi Police. Meanwhile, outside Parliament, two more individuals—a man and a woman—were detained with pressurized canisters that emitted red and yellow smoke, shouting slogans against dictatorship.
This unsettling incident coincided with the 22nd anniversary of the tragic terror attack on the old Parliament building. The timing compounded the gravity of the breach, leading to serious inquiries into the security protocols in place.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the time, was away in Raipur for the swearing-in ceremony of the BJP's new Chief Minister. However, the intensity of the breach was felt within the walls of Parliament, where Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Anupriya Patel were present during the turmoil.
The recovered visitor's pass issued by BJP MP Pratap Simha's office raised pertinent questions about the security clearance procedures for access to Parliament. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram highlighted the severity of the breach, emphasizing the potential dangers of the gas used and the intruder's proximity to the Speaker's Chair.
Meanwhile, the detention of two individuals outside Parliament—Amol Shinde and Neelam—paralleling the tactics of emitting colored smoke, suggested a possible connection between the incidents, as speculated by Delhi Police sources.
With the anti-terror unit of Delhi Police taking charge of the investigation, concerns over security measures have been amplified. The breach, occurring on such a significant date, prompted introspection into the existing security frameworks, casting a shadow over the solemn tribute paid earlier by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu to the victims of the 2001 attack.
As investigations unfold, the breach stands as a stark reminder of the imperative to fortify Parliament's security measures to thwart any potential threats to its sanctity.
