New Delhi: In a major security breach, when the Lok Sabha proceedings was underway, two persons on Wednesday jumped into the house chamber from the visitors' gallery, triggering panic and chaos among the members.
Televised footage of the proceedings showed the members attempting to catch the intruders as they climbed from desk to desk. The house was adjourned moments later.
One person was seen leaping over the benches of the Lok Sabha while another was seen dangling from the public gallery spraying a yellow-coloured gas when the Zero Hour was in progress.
Both the miscreants have been apprehended by the security personnel and further enquiry is being carried out.
It may be mentioned that the incident happened on the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack in Parliament in 2001.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, the Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, said, "This is certainly a security breach because today we observed the death anniversary of people who sacrificed their lives in 2001.”
"This is a serious breach of security, especially on December 13, the day when Parliament was attacked in 2001," Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said.
Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Dimple Yadav also raised concerns and said, "All those who come here, be it visitors or reporters, don't carry tags. So, I think the government should pay attention to this. I think this is a complete security lapse. Anything could have happened inside the Lok Sabha."
Meanwhile, two other persons, identified as 42-year-old Neelam and 25-year-old Amol Shinde, were detained by local police outside New Delhi’s Transport Bhavan, where they were protesting with yellow smoke.
After the incident, the proceedings of the Lok Sabha resumed at 2 pm. Speaking over security breach in the lower house, Speaker Om Birla said that initial investigation on the incident which took place during zero hour, is being done and necessary instructions have also been given to Delhi Police.
He added that in the preliminary investigation, it has been found that it was just a cloud of smoke and there was no need to worry about the smoke".
Birla said, "It is our collective responsibility to ensure the functioning of the house despite all adversities". (UNI)