iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Two youths dodged the security cordons of India’s parliament and set off smoke crackers inside the Lok Sabha spreading panic among the Members of Parliament on Wednesday, December 13. Ironically, the incident comes on the day when the parliamentarians were paying tribute to the security personnel who were slain during the terrorist attack on parliament that took place on the same day in 2001. The incident comes in the wake of threats issued by Khalistani leader – Gurpatwant Singh Pannun – to stage an attack that will “shake the very foundation of Parliament”.
The multi-layered security around the newly inaugurated parliament building includes background checks of visitors, manual frisking, baggage check-in, and other processes conducted by multiple agencies including the Delhi Police and the Central Reserve Police Forces. But, despite all the checks the youths had been successful in walking into the high-security zone with smoke canisters hidden in their shoes.
Two of the youths – Sagar Sharma of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and D Manoranjan of Mysuru in Karnataka – who caused the scare inside the parliament were nabbed by the MPs and handed over to the police, while two of their accomplices including a young woman were apprehended by Delhi police outside the parliament. They too had set off colored smoke crackers outside the parliament. Another accomplice Lalit Jha at whose house in Delhi the four had stayed is missing.
The duo entered the House, during the Zero Hour in Lok Sabha. Police investigations have revealed that they had allegedly been issued visitors’ passes on the recommendation of BJP MP from Mysore Pratap Simha. As the Lok Sabha proceeding was on, both jumped down from the visitors’ gallery into the well of the House. One of them leaped over the benches, took out the smoke cracker hidden in his shoe, and set it off. As the yellow gas spread inside the House, some MPs overpowered the youths while others ran out in panic.
“The incident that happened during Zero Hour is being investigated by the Lok Sabha, and Delhi Police has been given requisite directions regarding this,” said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Birla also informed the House that four persons have been arrested — two from inside the House, and two from outside Parliament in connection with the incident.
Among the two who were arrested outside the parliament were Neelam (42) and Amol Shinde (25). Neelam was raising anti-government slogans and was blaming the Modi government for being autocratic and also for ignoring people’s demands for jobs and rights for farmers. Police said that the initial probe has revealed that the four accused were not linked to any terrorist outfits.
Opposition leaders criticized the police agencies and the government for the security lapse. Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the incident was a “serious breach of security” that too on the 21st anniversary of the Parliament Attack. BSP MP Danish Ali demanded to know how the duo managed to enter the premises and who recommended the pass for them.
“The fact that these people who jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber were apparently sponsored by a sitting MP of the ruling party and managed to smuggle in smoke pistols shows a serious security lapse. The incident took place on the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack on the old Parliament building and cannot be taken lightly. The new Parliament does not seem to be configured very well when it comes to security. The Home Minister must come with a detailed response on the security arrangements for Parliament,” said Congress MP, Shashi Tharoor in his post on social media platform, X.
In another post on X, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said, “Saw two young men unleash foul smelling yellow colored 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’s security.”
Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla caught one of the two men and grabbed the canister he was holding before throwing it out. “He had something in his hand which was emitting yellow-colored smoke. I snatched it away and continued throwing it outside… This is a major security breach,” he said.
