Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to the security personnel who sacrificed their lives during the 2001 Parliament attack. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, and other senior parliamentarians also honored the fallen heroes.
Both National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and opposition leaders participated in the solemn tribute. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid homage, calling their sacrifice eternal and asserting that the nation will always remember their bravery. “The ‘temple of democracy’, the Indian Parliament House, witnessed a cowardly terrorist attack on this day in 2001. To the immortal heroes who laid down their lives, humble tribute. Jai Hind!” he said.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also saluted the valiant personnel, stating, “Their sacrifice for the protection of the nation will always be remembered.”
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) paid tribute to Constable Kamlesh Kumari of the 88 Battalion, highlighting her courage and sacrifice. During the 2001 attack, she pursued terrorists amidst heavy firing and provided critical intelligence, enabling the neutralization of all five attackers. She sustained fatal injuries and was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra.
On December 13, 2001, five heavily armed terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) stormed the Parliament complex in New Delhi, killing around 14 people, including security personnel and one civilian. The attack occurred shortly after Parliament had adjourned, with about 100 members present in the building.
On Friday, Lok Sabha paid heartfelt tributes to the brave soldiers of the Parliament Security Service, Delhi Police, and CRPF who made the ultimate sacrifice. Speaker Om Birla led the House in honoring their valor, reaffirming Parliament’s unwavering resolve to safeguard the nation’s unity, integrity, and sovereignty. (Agencies)
