PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Others Pay Tributes to Parliament Attack Martyrs

New Delhi, Dec 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday led the nation in paying tribute to the security personnel who laid down their lives in the 2001 Parliament terror attack, as leaders across party lines remembered their sacrifice at Parliament House.

The Prime Minister, along with Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and other parliamentarians, offered floral tributes to the fallen personnel. Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also joined the remembrance, underscoring a collective resolve against terrorism.

Recalling the incident as a brutal assault on the nation’s sovereignty, Yogi Adityanath remembered the courage of the security forces, while Gadkari saluted those who protected the “temple of democracy,” saying their sacrifice would always be remembered.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a post on X, described the martyred personnel as an unbreakable shield who protected the soul of India’s democracy, stating that their courage and supreme sacrifice continue to inspire the nation.

The Central Reserve Police Force paid special tribute to Constable Kamlesh Kumari of the 88 Battalion, who was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra for her bravery during the attack. The CRPF said her courageous actions helped neutralise all five terrorists before she succumbed to her injuries.

On December 13, 2001, five terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed attacked the Parliament complex, killing 14 people, mostly security personnel. The attack occurred about 40 minutes after Parliament was adjourned, when nearly 100 members were still present inside the building. (Agencies)