NEW DELHI : Both the Houses of Parliament today paid homage to martyrs of Parliament attack which happened on December 13, 2001.
As soon as the Lok Sabha assembled for the day at 1100 hrs, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, while making a reference to 2001 Parliament attack, said, ”It is with great solemnity that we recall the tragic incident of December 13, 2001 when terrorists, in a brazen attack, sought to hit the Parliament of India, the edifice of our democratic polity.”
Ms Mahajan said the cowardly attack was foiled by the alert security forces guarding the Parliament Complex.
Five security personnel of Delhi Police, Sarvashri Nanak Chand, Ram Pal, Om Prakash, Bijender Singh and Ghan Shyam, one woman constable Kamlesh Kumari of Central Reserve Police Force and two security assistants, Jagdish Prasad Yadav and Matbar Singh Negi of the Parliament Security Service achieved martyrdom, while valiantly thwarting the attack. One official Des Raj, was also martyred in the terrorist attack.
”The House pays homage to the supreme sacrifice made by our brave security personnel while defending the Parliament during the terrorist attack on December 13, 2001 and express its solidarity with their families,” she said.
”On this occasion, let us reiterate our resolve to combat terrorism and reaffirm our pledge to protect the unity, integrity and sovereignty of our motherland,” she added.
Similar reference was made in the Rajya Sabha by Chairman Hamid Ansari.
Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha stood in silence for a shortwhile as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed. (AGENCIES)