New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tributes to the victims of the terror attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001 in the US, and said "two contrasting images come to the mind" as on the same day in 1893 Swami Vivekanand delivered his historic speech at the Parliament of World's Religions in Chicago.

"Eleventh September... two contrasting images come to the mind. Today we pay tributes to all those who lost their lives in gruesome 9/11 attacks," Modi tweeted. 

The terror attacks carried out by the Al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people and left over 6,000 injured in New York and Washington D.C. The twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York were destroyed in the attack. 

In another tweet, Modi said: "On this day in 1893, Swami Vivekananda delivered his historic speech in Chicago and won many hearts and minds."

"Swami Vivekananda's speech in Chicago demonstrated the strength of India's rich culture and the power of universal brotherhood and harmony," he said in another tweet. 

Swami Vivekananda represented India and Hinduism at the Parliament of the World's Religions in 1893. Held from September 11-27, this was the first World's Parliament of Religions.