Parliament security breach: Two people enter Lok Sabha with canisters, arrested

Two men reportedly trespassed into the Lok Sabha today and opened tear gas canisters. They also jumped into the well, shouting slogans, The Indian Express reported. The two had reportedly jumped from the public gallery into the Lok Sabha chamber, where they were caught by politicians, and subsequently held by the security personnel. 

Journalists alleged that the two shouted “Taanashahi nahi chalegi” – dictatorship will not work. The Hindu reported that the two persons are “said to have received their passes from BJP MP from Mysore, Pratap Simha, as learnt from some Lok Sabha MPs”.

Speaking to the media outside Parliament, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “Two young men jumped from the gallery and something was hurled by them from which gas was emitting. They were caught by MPs; they were brought out by security personnel. The House was adjourned till 2 pm. This is certainly a security breach because today we observed the death anniversary of people who sacrificed their lives in 2001.”

Videos showed that the two entered the Lok Sabha chamber at about 1:12 pm, while West Bengal BJP MP Khagen Murmu was speaking in the House. The proceedings were subsequently suspended.

ANI later reported that people arrested “a man and a woman” outside Transport Bhawan.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram reportedly said that the canisters were emitting yellow smoke and raised concerns that it could have been “poisonous”. “Suddenly two young men around 20 years old jumped into the House from the visitor’s gallery and had canisters in their hands. These canisters were emitting yellow smoke. One of them was attempting to run towards the Speaker’s chair. They were shouting some slogans.”

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav called it a “complete security lapse”. “Anything could have happened inside the House today…those who come here do not have a tag…the government should look into this.”

Taking to X, Congress’s Gaurav Gogoi said, “This raises serious questions on another aspect of the new Parliament building –  security.”

This comes days after pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun released a video threatening to attack the Indian Parliament on or before December 13. 

Notably, today also marks 22 years of the 2001 Parliament attack which had left nine security personnel dead.