New Delhi/Srinagar: President Droupadi Murmu Wednesday said the nation will forever be indebted to the brave security personnel who laid down their lives in the 2001 terror attack on Parliament, and asked all to reiterate the pledge to wipe out terrorism.
“On this day, 22 years ago, the nefarious plan of terrorists to eliminate the top line of political leadership of the country and damage our Temple of Democracy was foiled by the brave security personnel, including the nine who laid down their lives for the motherland,” Murmu said in a post on ‘X’.
The nation will forever remain in their debt, she said.
“Their sacrifice will not be allowed to go in vain as we reiterate today our pledge to wipe out terrorism — a threat to humankind everywhere — in all its forms and manifestations,” the President said.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and others also paid tributes to those who laid down their lives during the attack.
Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, Home Minister Amit Shah, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh were among others who offered floral tributes.
Modi was seen interacting with the family members of the martyrs, particularly children who had gathered for the ceremony on a wintry morning.
Later, Modi was seen having a chat with the Rajya Sabha Chairman.
Congress leader Rajiv Shukla was also seen having a word with the prime minister before he departed from the venue.
“Remembering the courageous security personnel who laid down their lives during the attack on our Parliament in 2001. Bharat is forever indebted to them for their supreme sacrifice,” the Vice President said in a post on X.
“Terrorism remains a threat to humanity worldwide, and it is imperative for nations to stand united in eradicating this obstacle to global peace,” he said.
In a post on X, the prime minister said, “Today, we remember and pay heartfelt tributes to the brave security personnel martyred in the Parliament attack in 2001. Their courage and sacrifice in the face of danger will forever be etched in our nation’s memory”.
On December 13, 2001, five heavily armed terrorists stormed the Parliament complex, killing nine people. The terrorists were killed down before they could enter the main building.
Five Delhi Police personnel, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) official, two Parliament watch and ward staff, a gardener, and a journalist lost their lives in the attack.
The attack victims included Kamlesh Kumari, a constable with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the first to spot the terrorists and raise an alarm, Jagdish Prasad Yadav and Matbar Singh Negi of the Parliament watch and ward, and Nanak Chand, Rampal, Om Prakash, Bijender Singh, Ghanshyam of the Delhi Police and Deshraj, a gardener with the CPWD.
A journalist, who was injured in the attack, died later.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also paid tributes to those who died in the attack on Parliament on this day in 2001.
“Tributes to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the 2001 Parliament attack,” Sinha said on ‘X’.
He said the nation will always remain indebted to their exemplary courage, valour and supreme sacrifice.
