Nation pays homage to martyrs of Parliament attack

Martyrs of 2001 attack on Parliament were remembered today with lawmakers led by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar paying homage to them on the the 12th anniversary of the incident.

Leaders paid their respect both outside and inside Parliament.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, her son and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley respectively and other members attended a solemn ceremony held in the premises of Parliament.

Retired Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was also present on the occasion.The leaders observed silence for a while as a mark of respect for the martyrs.

Commenting on the anniversary, Swaraj said this year she was "satisfied that the mastermind of the attacks has already been punished."

BSP supremeo Mayawati said the Government should ensure that all facilities are provided to the kin of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country.

Inside the Lok Sabha, the Speaker led the House in remembering the martyrs who lost their lives while preventing the Pakistani terrorists from entering Parliament.