New Delhi: Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Saturday led MPs in paying tribute to the security forces who lost their lives while confronting the 2001 terror attack on Parliament House. On the 24th anniversary of the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Radhakrishnan, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, were among the first to pay tribute.
A brief function is held outside the old Parliament building every December 13 to mark the day. CISF personnel presented a salute or 'saman guard' at the venue, from which a minute's silence was observed to mark the anniversary. Till 2023, the CRPF used to present the 'salute weapon' (current weapon).
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and her sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also present at the function. Union ministers Kiren Rijiju, Jitendra Singh and Arjun Ram Meghwal also lined up to offer floral tributes to the portraits of the jawans who foiled the terror attack. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is in Latur to attend the last rites of former Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament and former Union Minister Shivraj Patil.
The attack was carried out by five armed terrorists. The attack was foiled by CRPF and Delhi Police personnel and none of the terrorists were able to enter the building. Six Delhi Police personnel, two personnel of the Parliament Security Service, a gardener and a TV video journalist were killed in the attack. All the five terrorists were then gunned down in the courtyard of the Parliament building.