MPs said people are not even allowed to bring their cellphones into the visitors’ gallery.
New Delhi:
Left shaken by the major security breach in the Lok Sabha 22 years after the attack on Parliament, several MPs have demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident. Two men jumped into the chamber of the Lok Sabha from the visitors’ gallery, carrying canisters filled with coloured smoke. Footage showed one of them jumping over desks and heading towards the Speaker’s chair, while another sprayed yellowish smoke from one of the canisters.
Speaking to NDTV, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said he initially thought a person had fallen from the visitors’ gallery.
“Zero Hour was on and I was waiting for my turn to speak. Suddenly one person jumped from the visitors’ gallery. Initially, it appeared as if he had leaned over and fallen down, that was my initial reaction. This was followed by another person jumping and then I realised that this was a deliberate act. One person started running towards the Speaker’s chair,” Mr Chidambaram said.
“He took out his shoe, he was overpowered by certain members, but he had a canister in his hand which he had opened. Another person jumped down and also opened a canister. Both the canisters emitted yellow smoke. We don’t know what the composition of the smoke was, it could have easily been toxic, it could have been poisonous, it could have been a smoke bomb, it could have been tear gas, it could have been anything,” the MP said.
Pointing out that the incident took place on December 13, the anniversary of the Parliament attack, Mr Chidambaram added, “This is a serious, serious breach of security. It is surprising that two people were able to bring canisters into the visitors’ gallery. To come into the Parliament gallery, you need the signature of an MP and you also need an ID (card). So it’s not as if unknown people can come there.”
The Congress leader emphasised that there is a strict screening before people can enter the visitors’ gallery and they are not even allowed to bring their cellphones.
“The Speaker, who is the custodian of the House, must constitute an immediate inquiry, apprehend the people involved in the incident and see where the breaches were,” he demanded.
‘MPs Showed Courage’
Speaking in the Lok Sabha after proceedings resumed, the Congress’ leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury lauded the MPs who overpowered the two men.
“How did an incident like this take place on the anniversary of the Parliament attack. Does this prove that enough precautions were not taken? I am happy to say that all our MPs showed courage and overpowered the two men,” he said.
‘Lapse’
BJP MP, who was presiding over the Lok Sabha when the breach occurred, said, “There was a lapse for sure. When the first person jumped, we thought he had fallen. I was on the Chair, a little far away… Our security personnel overpowered the men. There will be an investigation and we will find out what happened.”
“We will take action. The Speaker will take a decision on this,” he added.