New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday (December 13) paid tribute to the people who lost their lives in the 2001 Parliament attack.

"A grateful nation salutes the exemplary valour and courage of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives while defending the Parliament from terrorists on this day in 2001. We remain firm in our resolve to defeat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," the President tweeted.

Many Parliament members also tweeted in memory of those who were killed.

Taking to Twitter, Union minister of civil aviation Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted, "I join a grateful nation in paying tribute to the brave hearts who sacrificed their lives to valiantly defend our Parliament against a dastardly terror attack on this day in 2001. New India will forever remain indebted to them for their selflessness, fortitude & courage."

"A humble tribute to all the brave soldiers of Bharat Mata who were martyred in the terrorist attack on Parliament House on December 13," Lok Sabha lawmaker Manoj Tiwari tweeted.

On December 13, 2001, five heavily armed terrorists belonging to terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), stormed the Parliament complex in New Delhi and opened fire indiscriminately.

Around 14 people, mostly security forces and one civilian, were killed in this incident.

The incident took place around 40 minutes after Parliament was adjourned and about 100 members were present in the building.