The Hindu : National : Parliament pays homage to attack victims

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005

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National

Parliament pays homage to attack victims

Special Correspondent

Shekhawat seeks details on aid to victims' kin; Somnath calls for renewed efforts to combat terrorism

REMEMBERING THE MARTYRS: UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi along with the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, BJP president L.K.Advani, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister Shivraj Patil near the memorial of the Martyrs of Parliament House attack, in New Delhi on Tuesday. — Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

NEW DELHI: Parliament on Tuesday paid homage to security personnel killed in a terrorist attack on Parliament House on this day four years ago. Members in both Houses stood in silence, as a mark of respect for those who laid down their lives while foiling the attempt of terrorists to enter Parliament.

In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat asked the Government to report to the House the status of the assistance provided to family members of those killed. ``The Government should reply why there has been delay in giving assistance to family members of the victims,'' he said, responding to the issue raised by BJP member S.S. Ahluwalia.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri said the incident had occurred during the tenure of the National Alliance Government. He would inform the Government and come back to the House with why there had been delay during this and the previous regime.

In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said the occasion called for renewed efforts to combat global terrorism. ``Let us re-dedicate ourselves to protect the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country from all dangers, both external and internal.''

Five security staff of the Delhi Police, a woman constable of the Central Reserve Police Force, two security assistants of Parliament Watch and Ward Staff and one gardener had lost their lives during the attack. A cameraman of the electronic media also later succumbed to his injuries.

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