Did PM Modi and MPs Honor Security Personnel from the 2001 Parliament Terror Attack?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Significant event: 24th anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack.
- Tributes paid: Prime Minister Modi and other leaders honored security personnel.
- Bravery displayed: Security forces neutralized terrorists during the attack.
- Continued vigilance: Importance of maintaining national security.
- Collective memory: Honoring the sacrifices of martyrs is crucial for national unity.
New Delhi, Dec 13 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with several parliament members, paid homage on Saturday to the security personnel who sacrificed their lives during the 2001 terror attack on Parliament.
On December 13, 2001, five terrorists from the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) targeted the Parliament complex, resulting in the fatalities of six personnel from the Delhi Police, two members of the Parliament Security Service, and a gardener. All five assailants were neutralized by security forces during the assault.
Today marks the 24th anniversary of this tragic event.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan also arrived at the Parliament grounds to pay respects to those who perished in the attack.
Notable leaders present during the tribute ceremony included Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju, Piyush Goyal, Jitendra Singh, and Arjun Ram Meghwal, as well as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress Parliamentary Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, and other parliamentarians.
Earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah expressed on social media: "Today is a day to remember the unwavering valor and bravery of our security forces against terrorism, as they thwarted the cowardly assault on the temple of the world's largest democracy, our Parliament House, in 2001."
"I pay tribute to the gallant soldiers of our security forces who became martyrs while delivering a strong response to the terrorists. This nation will forever be grateful for the sacrifices and heroism of these warriors," he continued.
Priyanka Gandhi also honored those who lost their lives, stating: "We extend heartfelt tributes to our brave soldiers martyred in the cowardly terrorist attack on Indian Parliament on this day. The nation will always owe a debt of gratitude to these valiant martyrs and their families for their ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country's honor."
On that fateful day, five JeM terrorists infiltrated the Parliament complex in a vehicle displaying fake Home Ministry and Parliament labels.
Although both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha had been adjourned approximately 40 minutes prior, several Members of Parliament and senior officials, including then Home Minister L.K. Advani and then Minister of State for Defence Harin Pathak, were among the over 100 individuals believed to still be inside the building.
Using counterfeit identification stickers on their vehicle, the attackers, armed with AK-47 rifles, grenade launchers, pistols, and hand grenades, succeeded in breaching the security perimeter surrounding the parliamentary complex.
Constable Kamlesh Kumari from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was the first to spot the terrorists and raised the alarm.
She was shot by the attackers and succumbed at the scene. During the gunfight, one of the gunmen's suicide vests detonated after he was shot, while the remaining four terrorists were also eliminated by security forces.
All ministers and Members of Parliament inside the complex escaped without injury. In total, nine individuals lost their lives in the attack, while at least 17 others were injured.