New Delhi — The Lok Sabha on Friday paid solemn tributes to the brave personnel of the Parliament Security Service, Delhi Police, and CRPF who laid down their lives while defending Parliament during the terrorist attack on December 13, 2001. Speaker Om Birla led the House in honouring their sacrifice, as members reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to protecting the nation’s unity, integrity, and sovereignty by standing firm against terrorism.
The 2001 attack, carried out by five heavily armed terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, stunned the nation. The intruders stormed the Parliament complex and opened fire indiscriminately, killing around 14 people, including security personnel and a civilian. The strike occurred nearly 40 minutes after the House was adjourned, at a time when about 100 MPs were still inside the building.
During Friday’s proceedings, Speaker Birla also condoled the passing of former Lok Sabha Speaker and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. The senior Congress leader died at his residence in Latur at the age of 90 after a period of illness.
Born on October 12, 1935, in Chakur village of Maharashtra’s Latur district, Patil was a towering figure in Indian politics. His decades-long public life included several key roles in Parliament, the Union government, and state legislatures, marking him as one of the significant statesmen of his era.
