MPs pay tribute to security personnel killed in Parliament attack

Members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Monday paid tribute to the security personnel who laid down their lives while defending the Parliament complex from a terrorist attack on December 13, 2001.

The members in both houses of Parliament stood in silence for a brief period as a mark of respect for the departed souls.

This day in 2001, terrorists belonging to the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed attacked the Parliament complex and opened fire, killing nine people.

All five terrorists involved in the attack were also killed.

As soon as the Lok Sabha met for the day, speaker Om Birla mentioned about the security personnel and a staff who were killed in the attack, and emphasised that the resolve to fight terrorism will be strengthened.

The members of the Lower House stood in silence for a brief period as a mark of respect for those who laid down their lives in the attack.

In the Rajya Sabha, chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the day marks the 20th anniversary of the dastardly terror attack on the Parliament House.

"On this day in 2001, evil forces of terrorism tried to sabotage this August institution. However, their sinister motives were thwarted by the timely action of our valiant security forces, who kept a constant vigil on the situation and were steadfast in protecting this temple of democracy, even to the extent of laying down their lives," he said.

Naidu said on the occasion, "We all also reiterate our firm resolve" to fight terrorism with determination.

The Rajya Sabha members observed silence as a mark of respect for the departed souls.

The nine people who lost their lives in the attack were -- Jagdish Prasad Yadav and Matbar Singh Negi, both security assistants at the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Kamlesh Kumari, a Central Reserve Police Force constable, Nanak Chand and Rampal, assistant sub-inspectors of the Delhi police, Om Prakash, Bijender Singh and Ghanshyam, head constables of the Delhi police, and Deshraj, a gardener employed by the Central Public Works Department.