A chilling scene unfolded in the heart of Indian democracy on Wednesday, as a man wearing a black jacket and dark trousers leapt from the visitors' gallery into the lawmakers' seating area of the Lok Sabha, India's lower house of Parliament.
The parliament TV cameras captured the intruder's brazen jump, sending a wave of panic through the assembled lawmakers. He clambered over tables and strode into the aisles, shouting slogans that were barely audible amidst the gasps and murmurs. Then, in a scene reminiscent of a thriller film, he set off a smoke canister hidden in his shoes, filling the air with dense white and yellow fumes.
Chaos erupted. Security personnel and lawmakers scrambled to apprehend the intruder, finally cornering him in an aisle. Meanwhile, another individual in the visitors' gallery reportedly attempted a similar jump, but was thwarted by security.
#WATCH | Security breach in Lok Sabha | LoP in Rajya Sabha Malliakrjun Kharge raises the issue in the House once again.
— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2023
He says, "...We request you, kindly adjourn. Let the Home Minister come and give more details."
Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal says,… pic.twitter.com/SfQRdYmcDh
Despite the presence of notable figures like Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Anupriya Patel, the situation was swiftly brought under control by MPs and security staff.
She shouts “Samvidhan bachao” after breaking laws😂
— Cabinet Minister, Ministry of Memes,🇮🇳 (@memenist_) December 13, 2023
Leftists are the weirdest people on this planet.. #ParliamentAttack pic.twitter.com/MmdosbIVKE
Speaker Om Birla later made a brief statement, reassuring MPs that an investigation was underway, and Delhi Police had been called in to join the inquiry. The intruders, identified as Sagar Sharma and D Manoranjan, were apprehended, and materials in their possession were seized. Additionally, two individuals detained outside Parliament with colored pressurized canisters are believed to be connected to the incident.
The security lapse occurred on the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack on the old Parliament building, raising serious concerns about vulnerabilities in Parliament security. Questions about how the intruders entered, their motives, and the consequences of the breach are already circulating. The incident has prompted calls for an immediate upgrade to Lok Sabha security, with the Delhi Police's anti-terror unit taking charge of the investigation.
VIDEO | Forensics team arrives at Parliament following a security breach inside Lok Sabha earlier today. pic.twitter.com/4jnUIzmweP
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 13, 2023
The new, high-security Parliament building, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May, was supposed to be impregnable. Yet, this brazen act proved otherwise. The complex, located in the heart of New Delhi's power center, boasts a multi-layered security apparatus, including its own personnel, paramilitary forces, and Delhi Police.
She is feeling a bit anxious about job prospects at the age of 35 as a student, but hey, if all else fails, JNU seems like a promising avenue for her. #ParliamentAttack pic.twitter.com/lnOmT4tqx8
— Shubham Sakhuja (@ishubhamsakhuja) December 13, 2023
As the nation grapples with this breach, the incident's impact on India's image, security measures, and potential consequences for Indo-Pakistan relations remain critical points of discussion. The opposition is demanding swift action and accountability for the security lapse, highlighting the need for urgent reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.
