LOK Sabha on Tuesday paid glowing tributes to those who laid down their lives while foiling a terror attack on Parliament 21 years ago. As soon as the House assembled, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said it was a sad day for the country as terrorists carried out a cowardly attack on Parliament.

He said that the whole nation stands behind the family of those killed in the terrorist attack and the country stands solidly against any form of terrorism. The members of the House also stood in silence for some moments in memory of the victims. On December 13, 2001, terrorists attacked the Parliament complex and opened fire, killing nine people.

The attack victims included five Delhi police personnel, a woman Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper, two Parliament watch and ward staff and a gardener. A journalist who was injured died later. All five terrorists were shot dead. RS PAYS RICH TRIBUTES TO MARTYRS: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday remembered the valour and bravery of the martyrs of the 2001 Parliament attack while paying rich tributes to them.

The members also stood in silence in their places for a moment as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives in the attack. Soon after the proceedings of the House started, Deputy Chairman Harivansh said December 13 will always be remembered as the grimmest day in the history of independent India. He said 21 years ago on this day in 2001, terrorists attacked this sacred temple of democracy, but security personnel displayed courage and valour to defend and protect Parliament and foil the audacious attempt of terrorists to strike at the very soul of our nation.

NATION GRATEFUL TO BRAVEHEARTS: MURMU President Draupadi Murmu on Tuesday said the nation will always remain grateful to the “valiant martyrs” who laid down their lives in the 2001 Parliament attack.

Twenty-one years ago on December 13, terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) attacked the Parliament complex and opened fire, killing nine people.

“The nation pays homage to the valiant martyrs who laid down their lives while defending the Parliament against terrorist attack on this day in 2001. We will always remain grateful to the bravehearts for their courage and supreme sacrifice,” the President tweeted. VP, PM pay homage: Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tributes to the martyrs of the 2001 Parliament attack, which had taken place 21 years ago. They laid wreathes on the pictures of the martyrs at the Parliament complex. Also in attendance were Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. On December 13, 2001, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists had attacked the Parliament complex, in which nine persons including police and security personnel

were killed. Rahul Gandhi pays tributes: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday paid tributes to those who laid down their lives during the 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament and said their sacrifice inspires people to devote everything in the service of the country.

Twenty-one years ago on December 13, terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) attacked the Parliament complex and opened fire, killing nine people. “I pay tribute to the warriors of the country who laid down their lives to protect the honour of India on this day in 2001, during the cowardly terrorist attack on Parliament,” Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.