Summary:
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) Members cutting across party lines Monday bade farewell to vice president M Venkaiah Naidu, lauding his role as Rajya Sabha chairman and recollecting how he inspired and allowed them to speak in their native languages.
While some Opposition members urged him to pen an autobiography, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge appreciated how Naidu functioned despite being "under pressure".
Kharge, who spoke after Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his farewell speech for Naidu, recalled the outgoing vice president"s long political career and said he will neither retire from public life nor get tired.
The Congress leader said he has known Naidu for 30-40 years, from the time he was the general secretary of the BJP Karnataka.
He said that as Rajya Sabha chairman, Naidu took several steps to bring changes.
Noting that Naidu favoured reaching consensus on women"s reservation bill, the Congress veteran said, "I hope the government will complete the work which you have left unfinished".
"You have a different ideology and my ideology is known.
I may have some complaints.
But this is not the time to make complaints, as you performed your role under difficult circumstances and under pressure, for which I thank you and appreciate you," Kharge said.
He also appreciated the outgoing chairman for encouraging members to speak in their mother tongues and encouraging MPs from non-Hindi belts to speak in Hindi.
He recalled how Naidu used to say a politician neither retires nor gets tired, and expressed hope he would be more active in public life and keep guiding the youth.
"As PM said, you will neither retire from public life nor get tired." He also talked about how the Chairman conducted the House during Covid, but said the Lok Sabha TV and the Rajya Sabha TV should not have been merged.
Tiruchi Siva (DMK) said, "We are bidding you farewell only because it is customary, but we can never do so.
On behalf of my party DMK and my fellow colleagues, my special regards to you." Siva said Naidu was "lion" in the House who could discipline everyone.
Only in the Rajya sabha can a member speak in any of the 22 scheduled languages and Naidu made that happen, he said.
He also recorded that there has been a custom of using the word "beg" while making a request to the chair, but Naidu got the word removed and upheld the dignity of the members as well as the honour of the House.
"I request you sir, please write your autobiography which will be your real contribution to the posterity of this country.