2001 Parliament ambush: Story of courage, valour and powerful democracy

The entire nation came to a standstill on December 13, 2001, soon after the news broke that terrorists had attacked the Indian Parliament, the temple of democracy. Hundreds of MPs feared the worst and the threat of a Parliament hijack that could have had major implications and, maybe, leaving the country leaderless.

Recounting the horrific 40 minutes of terror, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the valour and courage shown by the bravehearts in securing and protecting Parliament and the power of India's democracy. Delivering his opening remark during Parliament’s Special Session in the Lok Sabha on Monday, PM Modi affirmed that the terror attack was not on the Parliament building, but on the “Mother of Democracy”.

"There was a terror attack (on the Parliament). This was not an attack on a building. In a way, it was an attack on the mother of democracy, on our living soul. The country can never forget that incident," said the Prime Minister in Lok Sabha on Monday. 

The tragic attack on the Indian Parliament which unfolded on December 13, 2001, was orchestrated by five terrorists affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). These heavily armed assailants were equipped with explosive belts and had a sinister plan to seize multiple Members of Parliament and politicians as hostages.

2001 Parliament attack: A look back

On the day of the ambush, five armed terrorists entered the Parliament Complex at around 11:40 AM in an Ambassador car with a beacon and a duplicate Home Ministry sticker. As the vehicle approached Building Gate No. 12, a vigilant member of the Parliament House Watch and Ward Staff became suspicious.

The car was subsequently halted from progressing further, leading to an unintended collision with the vehicle of the then Vice President, Krishan Kant. At this point, armed terrorists armed with AK-47s and grenades disembarked from the car and began firing their weapons. An alarm was swiftly sounded, prompting the closure of all building gates.

Following the attack, the Parliament proceedings for the day were adjourned, leaving approximately 100 leaders, politicians, and staff members stranded within the building. Security forces swiftly cordoned off the area and neutralised the five assailants. Following the nearly 40-minute-long assault, security personnel uncovered a cache of weapons that included AK-47 rifles, grenade launchers, pistols, and grenades.

Nine Bravehearts sacrificed lives 

The assault resulted in the tragic loss of nine lives, including six brave Delhi Police personnel, two dedicated Parliament Security Service members, and a diligent gardener. This heinous incident escalated tensions significantly between India and Pakistan, ultimately culminating in the 2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff. 

While addressing the Lok Sabha during the Parliament Special Session, PM Modi expressed condolence to the Bravehearts who sacrificed their lives to safeguard the Parliament, one of the four pillars of Indian democracy. "I bow before those who took bullets to their chest to protect the Parliament and all its members while fighting the terrorists," the Prime Minister said. 

An event to remember the nine Bravehearts was organised near India Gate in Delhi | Image: X

'All five terrorists are Pak nationals'

Reacting to the horrific terror attack on the Parliament, then Home Minister LK Advani said, "It is now evident that the terrorist assault on the Parliament House was executed jointly by Pakistan-based and supported terrorist outfits, namely, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad."  

"These two organisations are known to derive their support and patronage from Pak ISI. The investigation so far carried out by the police shows that all the five terrorists who formed the suicide squad were Pakistani nationals. All of them were killed on the spot and their Indian associates have since been nabbed and arrested," said Advani in Lok Sabha. 

Meanwhile, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee wanted to hit terrorist camps in the neighbouring country, however, the plan never took shape, according to reports. Vajpayee, who passed away in 2018, sought a Balakot-type airstrike in counter. 

Former PM Vajpayee pays floral tribute to security personnel killed during the Parliament attack Image: X 

Nation pays homage to victims of 2001 Parliament attack 

Last year, Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, alongside Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, took the lead in honouring the memory of the security personnel and victims of the Parliament attack, which occurred 21 years ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with several Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentarians, also paid their respects by offering floral tributes to the security personnel and victims.

President of India Droupadi Murmu also remembered the victims. "The nation pays homage to the valiant martyrs who laid down their lives while defending the Parliament against terrorist attack on this day in 2001. We will always remain grateful to the brave hearts for their courage and supreme sacrifice," a tweet from Rashtrapati Bhavan said.