"Were security guards asleep?" Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan questions Parliament security breach

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 13 (ANI): Voicing serious concerns over the major security breach in Parliament while both Houses were in session in the ongoing Winter Session, Congress leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan hit out at the BJP-led Centre, asking if the officials responsible for the responsibility for the security of the members and visitors to the country's topmost legislative body were 'asleep'.
Speaking to ANI after two unidentified persons entered the new Parliament complex and broke into the Lok Sabha, setting off smoke canisters, the Congress leader said, "As soon as learned of the security breach in Parliament, I raised the issue on the floor of the Assembly here. Two men from the visitors' gallery in the Lok Sabha jumped into the House and set off canisters containing some gas. We don't know if it was tear gas or something more poisonous."
Questioning how the two persons breached the secure confines of the Parliament, coming through multiple layers of security despite carrying smoke canisters, the former Maharashtra CM added, "It was a major security breach. How did they (unidentified persons) get inside the Parliament with gas canisters? Were the security guards asleep? Someone reminded me that today was the day our Parliament came under attack by terrorists in 2001. This is a very serious issue. They (BJP-led Centre) have reduced security inside the Parliament complex to a joke," he added.
On what was the 22nd anniversary of the attack on Parliament, the two unidentified persons set off a major scare as they jumped into the Lower House while it was in session and set off smoke before being overpowered by some members.
Speaker Om Birla said a thorough investigation was already underway into the breach during the Zero Hour in the Lower House.
Recalling the incident, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said two individuals jumped into the House from the visitors' gallery during the Zero Hour and held smoke canisters in their hands.
They released a yellow gas from their canisters and raised slogans before some members pounced on them and started raining blows.
Visuals showed an unidentified man jumping from the visitor's gallery of Lok Sabha, setting off chaos inside the House.
The House was adjourned until 2 pm.
The incident took place when the members were raising matters of urgent public importance and BJP MP Khagen Murmu had stood up to make a point.
Almost at the same time, two individuals sprayed coloured gas and shouted slogans outside the Parliament premises.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, two people, including one man and a woman, were detained after protesting with coloured smoke outside the new Parliament premises.
The two were later arrested by Delhi Police and taken to Parliament Street police station.
They were arrested for violation of Section 144, officials said later. (ANI)