President Ram Nath Kovind and Union ministers on Friday paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the 2001 Parliament attack.

Eighteen years ago on December 13, terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) attacked the Parliament complex and opened fire killing nine people.The victims included five Delhi Police personnel, a woman Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper, two Parliament watch and ward staff and a gardener. A journalist who was injureddied later. All five terrorists were shot dead.

President Kovind, in a tweet said, "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 form sand manifestations."

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted, "Todayl et us remember the martyrs who sacrificed their lives defending and protecting the Parliament of India from the terrorist attack."

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri saluted the brave hearts who lost their lives in the attack.

"I join a grateful nation in paying tribute to thebravehearts who sacrificed their lives to valiantly defend our parliamentagainst a dastardly terror attack on this day in 2001. New India will foreverremain indebted to them for their selflessness, fortitude & courage,"he tweeted.In a message on Twitter, the Trinamool Congress paid tribute to thevictims of the Parliament attack, saying, "Violence in any form iscondemnable. Let us all strive for peace."

"Today is the 18th anniversary of the attack on IndianParliament. Solemnly remembering those who lost their lives on that day. Mysympathies with those who were injured in the line of duty. Terrorism andviolence have no place in a civilised society," West Bengal Chief Ministerand TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee tweeted.