Parliament Complex hosted a tribute ceremony

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and senior leaders cutting across party lines paid tributes to martyrs of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on its 24th anniversary on Friday. The homage ceremony was held at the Parliament complex, outside the old Parliament building, now named as Samvidhan Sadan, where floral wreaths were laid in the memory of the security personnel who laid down their lives while defending the nation’s लोकतांत्रिक institution.

The event was attended by Members of Parliament, Union Ministers, senior officials, and representatives of security forces. The ceremony was part of the established annual tradition observed on December 13 to remember one of the most serious terror attacks in India’s history.

Floral Homage is Paid by Prime Minister Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was among the first leaders to reach the memorial site, laid a wreath and stood in solemn silence, homage to the sacrifice of the fallen personnel. In a message shared later, the Prime Minister remembered the valour and commitment shown by the security forces that repulsed the attack and saved Parliament.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by senior ministers and officials, with the ceremony conducted under strict protocol. A ceremonial guard of honour was presented by personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), reflecting the continued role of central forces in safeguarding Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi, Congress Leadership Present

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi laid wreaths at the foot of the lamp post to pay homage to the martyrs. He was joined by Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. A host of Congress Members of Parliament, besides those from opposition parties, were in attendance during the ceremony.

The presence of leaders from the ruling alliance as well as the opposition marked a moment of bipartisan unity in remembrance of lost lives during the attack.

Vice President Leads Parliamentary Delegation

The first to lead a delegation of Members of Parliament in paying tributes was the Vice-President of India and Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar. MPs in both Houses gathered at the memorial, offering flowers and observing a minute of silence in honour of the martyrs.

Among others who paid homage were Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju, Jitendra Singh and Arjun Ram Meghwal. Senior officials of the Parliament Secretariat and representatives of various security agencies were also present.

Prior Engagement: Speaker Yet to Take Charge in Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla did not attend the tribute ceremony as he went to Latur in Maharashtra to attend the funeral of former Lok Sabha Speaker and former Union Minister Shivraj Patil. Parliamentary sources said the Speaker has conveyed his respects separately on the occasion.

Although he was absent, proceedings at the Parliament complex took place without any hitch, as the leaders observed the commemorative schedule of programs.

Presentation of Colours to CISF Guard of Honour and Official Observances

The security personnel of the CISF presented a “samman guard” as part of the ceremony to honor the bravery of the fallen security personnel. It involved observing a minute of silence by all at the event, with floral wreaths laid at the memorial showing the names of those who had lost their lives.

The ceremony was conducted in a very security-intensive arrangement and reflected the heightened sensitivity associated with the anniversary of the 2001 attack.

Recalling the 2001 Parliament Terror Attack

At least five heavily armed terrorists affiliated with Pakistan-based terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed tried to storm the Parliament complex on December 13, 2001. Despite breaching the outer security perimeter, their attempt was stalled before they could gain access to the Parliament building.

Security forces, comprising personnel from the Parliament Security Service, Delhi Police, and CRPF, immediately engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle within the Parliament premises. All five terrorists were neutralized during the encounter.

Martyrs Who Laid Down Their Lives

Nine people were killed as a result of this attack, including six Delhi Police personnel, two Parliament Security Service staff members, and one civilian gardener. Additionally, one television journalist was killed in the cross-firing. Large amounts of credit are given to them for saving a bigger tragedy as more than 100 Members of Parliament, apart from staff, were working within the complex on that day.

Events annually remind people of the martyrs’ prompt response and bravery amidst circumstances that threatened their lives.

Impact on National Security Framework

The attack on Parliament in 2001 had long-standing effects on India’s internal security policies. Security arrangements at Parliament and other key installations in the country were strengthened manifold after that. The incident also led to greater diplomatic and military tensions at the time between India and Pakistan.

Since then, additional layers of security, advanced systems of surveillance. And increased protocols on access were implemented to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Annual Remembrance and Commemoration at the national level Every year, on December 13, the leaders, security forces, and the families of the martyrs meet in Parliament to remember the sacrifices made during the attack. The anniversary acts as a grim reminder of how democratic institutions and those who are at the front line of national security have to be always on guard. The conclusion of the anniversary ceremony today thus saw officials and leaders disperse, having paid their respects, while Parliament carried on with today’s scheduled proceedings.