24th Anniversary: Parliament Mourns Heroes Who Fell Defending Democracy
The political drama was set aside for a morning of solemn remembrance. On Saturday, December 13, the 24th anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, a brief, silent function was held outside the old Parliament building, now known as the Samvidhan Sadan.
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Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, who is also the Rajya Sabha Chair, led the tributes. He was joined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who came early to offer his respects.
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Party Lines Blurred
This is the thing: In an era of non-stop political friction, the tribute ceremony was a rare show of unity.
Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Arjun Ram Meghwal were there.
Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, also showed up to pay their respects.
They all lined up to place floral tributes at the photographs of the personnel who went down defending the heart of Indian democracy.
The Sacrifice
Let’s be real about what happened that day. Five heavily armed terrorists came to attack the complex.
Personnel from the Parliament Security Service, CRPF, and Delhi Police fought back with unbelievable courage. They foiled the terrorists’ main goal—to get inside the building—but the cost was brutal.
The fallen heroes included:
Six Delhi Police personnel.
Two Parliament Security Service personnel.
A gardener.
A TV journalist.
All five terrorists were gunned down in the forecourt. They didn’t make it past the outer security ring. The Prime Minister later put out a social media post, praising their “courage, alertness and unwavering sense of duty.” He said India would forever be grateful for their supreme sacrifice.
Here’s the kicker: The ceremony itself saw a subtle change: The CISF personnel offered a “samman guard” salute this year. Until 2023, it was the CRPF who had traditionally offered the “salami shastra.”
The country remains indebted to these families, and the commitment to fight terrorism in all its forms remains ongoing……
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Disclaimer: This information is based on reports and official statements regarding the commemorative ceremony held at Samvidhan Sadan on December 13, 2025.
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