New Delhi: December 13, 2023: Chaos broke out in the Lok Sabha when two men breached security and jumped into the house during the proceedings. Simultaneously, protesters outside the Parliament raised their voices in demand of justice for Manipur while starting multicolored smoke canisters.

The incident raised concerns about the security of the parliamentary premises.

Inside the Lok Sabha, the intruders, [one of them was named as Sagar,] created a tense situation as he jumped in and scrambled over benches, forcing MPs to encircle him. The hall was filled with yellow smoke as the intruders screamed slogans like “Kala kanoon wapis lo” and “Tanashahi nahin chalegi.”

The security breakdown occurred at zero hour, shortly before lunch, creating chaos and forcing the parliament to adjourn.

Despite the frantic efforts of Members of Parliament (MPs) to contain the situation, the intruder was eventually cornered and apprehended. MPs expressed understandable alarm over the security breach, particularly highlighting concerns regarding the potential toxicity of the emitted smoke.

In response to the incident, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla assured a comprehensive investigation into the breach, aiming to ascertain the circumstances leading to the security lapse.

Visitor’s Pass

Significantly, a visitor’s pass recovered from the apprehended intruders indicated it was issued by the office of Pratap Simha, the BJP MP representing Mysuru. This discovery has raised questions about the security clearance process for visitors entering Parliament, as all visitors are mandated to undergo multiple layers of security screening before being granted access.

As tensions simmer following this unprecedented breach, there are growing calls for a thorough review of the security protocols governing entry into the Lok Sabha premises to prevent such alarming incidents in the future.

Meanwhile, a lady protester named Neelam Kaur and a guy named Amol Shinde carried out an act of protest outside the Parliament by releasing yellow and pink smoke from cans. Neelam sang slogans like “Tanashahi nahin chalega,” “Manipur ko insaaf do,” “Samvidhaan bachao,” and “Mahilayon par atyachar nahin chalega.” Protesters were heard chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai.”

Videos of the incident, both inside and outside the Parliament, swiftly spread on social media, shedding light on the unexpected happenings.

‘Don’t Surpress Citizen’s Voices’

During her detention by the police, Neelam Kaur conveyed her displeasure with the Indian government’s misconduct. She pointed out the suppression of citizens’ voices when they speak out for their rights, which results in lathicharges, imprisonment, and torture. When asked about their connection, she responded, “We are common people—students, employed individuals, hardworking parents, laborers, farmers, and small businessmen.” Our voices are being silenced, but this tyranny will not stand. Bharat Mata Ki Jai, put an end to the exploitation.”

The security breach coincidentally occurred on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, a historical event when armed terrorists stormed the Parliament building. While some reports indicated that the intruders sprayed a yellow substance from canisters, LS Speaker Om Birla assured that, according to preliminary inquiries, the smoke was not harmful.

The event has raised discussions about the security procedures at the Parliament and the need for a full investigation into the incident. The protesters’ demands for justice for Manipur, as well as their loud slogans, show buried concerns and frustrations among certain groups of the people, encouraging authorities to address these issues as soon as possible.

  Justice for Manipur, Lok Sabha, Manipur, Parliament