NEW DELHI: Parliament today expressed grief over the death of hundreds of people in recent terror attacks and natural calamities worldwide as well as due to explosion of fire crackers at a temple in Kerala.
Lok Sabha also condoled the death of many people due to the collapse of an under-construction flyover in Kolkata, landslide in Arunachal Pradesh, bus accident in Odisha and killing of CRPF personnel in Chattisgarh.
Recent earthquakes in Ecuador and Japan have also claimed many lives.
“We strongly condemn the barbaric terrorist attacks,” Mahajan said while expressing anguish over killing of people in the terror attacks in Brussels, Belgium on March 22. One Indian was also killed and two others injured in the incident.
“The House reiterates its call to the global community to unitedly combat and eliminate the scourge of terrorism,” she said.
Mahajan expressed “profound sorrow on the heinous terrorist attacks, all natural calamities and also on the tragic accidents which have brought pain and suffering to the bereaved families”.
Lok Sabha also condoled the passing away of four former members.
As a mark of respect to the departed, both Houses stood in silence for a while.
In Rajya Sabha, Chairman Hamid Ansari termed the terrorist attacks in Brussels as “senseless and barbaric acts” that are “deplorable and condemnable in strongest possible terms.”
He called upon the world community to unitedly combat the scourge of terrorism.
Ansari also expressed deep sorrow at the loss of precious lives in earthquakes in Ecuador and Japan. “Loss of precious life is indeed painful and unfortunate”.
Referring to the killing of seven CRPF personnel in a landmine blast in Dantewada district on March 31, he said such acts of “senseless violence” must be condemned in strongest possible terms.
The Chairman also expressed deep sorrow at the death of 105 persons in a fire triggered by firework at a Kerala temple on April 10. He also mentioned of 16 persons being killed in a landslide in Twang and another 30 persons being killed in a bus accident in Odisha on April 17.
Members rose in their places as a mark of respect to the memory of those who lost their lives in various incidents.
The House also mourned the death of passing away of four of its former members.
Ansari said Ramandla Raamachandrayya, who represented Andhra Pradesh in the Upper House from April 1998 to April 2004, passed away on March 16 at the age of 65 years.
Jhumuk Lal Bhendia passed away on March 18 at the age of 85 years. An advocate by profession, he represented the state of Madhya Pradesh in Rajya Sabha from June 1998 to November 2000 and Chhattisgarh from November 2000 to June 2004.
C Silvera, who died on April 9 at the age of 80 years, represented Mizoram in Rajya Sabha from July 1984 to November 1989. He was a member of the 9th, 10th and 11th Lok Sabha.
Urmilaben Chimanbhai Patel, who was Minister of State for Power in the Narsimha Rao government, died on April 21 at the age of 84 years. She represented Gujarat in the Upper House from August 1993 to August 1999.
Members stood in their places to observe silence as mark of respect to the memory of the departed former members. (AGENCIES)
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