Lawmakers, paramilitaries donate blood on 26/11 anniversary

New Delhi, Nov 26 (ANI): Lawmakers and paramilitary personnel donated blood on Thursday to express their support with victims of the 26/11 terrorist attack.

The mood was somber in the Parliament and lawmakers paid their condolences to the innocent victims.

Both houses of the parliament observed a two-minute silence in memory of those killed in last year's attacks.

Lok Sabha Speaker, Meira Kumar organised a blood donation camp for lawmakers and paramilitary personnel.

Sandeep Dikshit, the Congress MP, said this was a small way in which lawmakers were making their individual contribution for the cause.

"Today, I think every citizen would be trying to do something as part of a national movement probably symbolic or any other way. So I am very happy and would want to congratulate the Speaker that she organised a blood donation camp for parliamentarians and legislators. This way we also got an opportunity to donate blood and make our small contribution," said Dikshit.

Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said it was a moment to salute the courage and bravery of security personnel as well as of the common man.

"It's a day where of course we remember our grief and our mourning, a day in which the horrendous loss of life a year ago will continue to steer our consciousness and our hearts. But it is also a day to salute, to courage and bravery of so many people, our security forces, the police, the NSG (National Security Guard), and then the ordinary human beings. The hotel workers, people who went out of their way to save life of innocents. Let us remember their courage today as well. And third it is also a day to remember the spirit of India, the sprit of Mumbai, the spirit of all those people who stood up in the face of terror. Let the message go today from India to the rest of the world - 'India will not be terrorised," said Tharoor.

Communist Party of India's (CPI), D. Raja, said parliamentarians cutting across party lines had closed ranks to send out a message of unity. (ANI)