Narendra Modi pays tributes to victims of 2001 Parliament attack, says India will never forget 'cowardly attack'

New Delhi: Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Speaker Om Birla, Union ministers and Opposition leaders on Sunday paid tributes at the Parliament complex to those who lost their lives in the 2001 Parliament attack. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Leader of Opposition in the Upper House Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ram Gopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party and Rajiv Shukla of the Congress were among those who paid tributes at a brief ceremony held outside the Parliament building.

Delhi: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad pay tributes to those who lost their lives in 2001 Parliament attack. pic.twitter.com/G5KtMvzr1P

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2020

Those present observed a moment of silence as a mark of respect for the martyrs. Nineteen years ago on 13 December, terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) attacked the Parliament complex and opened fire. Five Delhi Police personnel, a woman Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper, and two Parliament Watch and Ward Staff died taking on the terrorists. A gardener and a photojournalist also died. All five terrorists were shot dead by security forces in retaliatory action. Earlier, President Ram Nath Kovind said the nation gratefully remembers the brave martyrs who laid down their lives defending Parliament on this day in 2001.

The nation gratefully remembers the brave martyrs who laid down their lives defending the Parliament on this day in 2001. While commemorating the great sacrifice of those defenders of the temple of our democracy, we strengthen our resolve to defeat the forces of terror.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 13, 2020

Taking to Twitter, the prime minister said that India will never forget the cowardly attack on its Parliament.

We will never forget the cowardly attack on our Parliament on this day in 2001. We recall the valour and sacrifice of those who lost their lives protecting our Parliament. India will always be thankful to them.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 13, 2020

The Union home minister in a tweet and said the nation will remain indebted to the victims forever. “I pay my heartfelt tributes to the brave sons of Mother India who made supreme sacrifice by taking on the enemies in the cowardly terrorist attack on the Parliament House, the temple of democracy, in 2001. A grateful nation will forever be indebted for your supreme sacrifice,” Shah tweeted in Hindi. “I bow to their exemplary courage and sacrifice,” he said. The incident led to a high level of tension between India and Pakistan and a massive upgrade in the security of the Parliament complex.