New Delhi: The Indian parliament witnessed a security breach on Wednesday, when two intruders jumped from the visitor gallery into the lower house and ran towards the speaker’s podium, creating chaos and panic among the lawmakers.
The incident occurred at around 1 pm, during the zero-hour session of the Lok Sabha when the members were raising various issues of public importance. The intruders, who were wearing black jackets and masks, also sprayed some colored gas and shouted slogans as they entered the house.
The security personnel and some MPs quickly surrounded and apprehended the intruders, who were later identified as Rajesh Kumar and Rakesh Sharma, both residents of Delhi. They were taken to the parliament police station for interrogation.
The motive behind the intrusion is not clear yet, but some sources said that the intruders were protesting against the government’s policies on farmers and the environment. They also claimed to be members of a group called Green Peace India, which is known for its environmental activism.
The security lapse in the parliament has raised serious questions about the safety and preparedness of the security agencies, especially on the anniversary of the 2001 attack on the parliament, when five terrorists stormed the complex and killed nine security personnel and a gardener.
The speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, adjourned the house for an hour after the incident and later resumed the proceedings. He condemned the intrusion and said that it was an insult to democracy and the martyrs of the 2001 attack. He also assured that the matter will be investigated thoroughly and the culprits will be punished.
The incident has also drawn attention from the international media, with several outlets reporting on the security breach in the Indian parliament. The BBC, for instance, published the incident with the headline India parliament sees security breach on attack anniversary, while Reuters wrote Security breach in the Indian parliament, a man jumps into lawmakers’ area. Both the outlets cited the images and videos from the Indian news channels, showing the intruders jumping over the tables and being caught by the security personnel.
