Rajya Sabha members bid farewell to retiring members

Rajya Sabha on Tuesday bid farewell to four retiring members of Upper House with Deputy Chairman Harivansh heaping lavish praise on leer of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Az, terming him a repository of rich experiences.

veteran Congress leer and Nazir Ahmed Laway (PDP) will retire on February 15 while terms of Mir Mohamm Fayaz (PDP) and Shamsher Singh Manhas (BJP) will end on February 10.

"It was my fortune that I got to sit next to Ghulam Nabi Az in House... He has connected entire country with Jammu and Kashmir... I have not come across a person like him who has such rich experiences... Have learnt a lot from his guidance, decency, conduct...," Harivansh said.

Az's political stature is unparallel, he said and ded that Congress leer has risen to such a position in national politics from a block level worker in Kashmir.

He appreciated him for mammoth work in health sector like National Urban Health Mission and setting up of medical colleges.

Retirement from house is only a temporary thing and not a break in his chosen path of serving nation, Harivansh said.

Az said he is among those lucky people who never went Pakistan and feels proud to be a Hindustani Muslim.

He spoke for almost 28 minutes, quoting several couplets and hoping for restoration of peace in Jammu & Kashmir and return of Kashmiri Pandits back to valley.

Fayaz in his speech said, "We work for this country. We have taken flag of country to villages. It hurts and sdens us when we are called anti-national by media and ors." He recalled his journey from Kupwara, near Pakistan border and from municipal committee re to Rajya Sabha and said he worked for mainstream and against separatist calls.

He praised government for work in areas of schemes like Ujjwala and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, both of whom were present in House, to "do justice to people to J&K" by restoring statehood and special status and reby winning and strengning ir faith.

In his speech, Manhas said: "I come from Kashmir, mukat mani (crown jewel) of country, and am sitting among ors from country. I have worked for this mukut mani and will work for it in future too." He said he has visited all parts of Jammu, Kashmir and Lakh and learnt a lot from Modi about conduct in public life. Anor retiring member Laway appealed for restoration of statehood besides rail connectivity.

He remembered his party leer Mufti Mohamm Sayeed who sent him to this House and said he developed a relationship with all members and people because he came to Rajya Sabha.

He urged prime minister and home minister for human and or resources development work in Jammu & Kashmir saying y have to take care of union territory because now re would no representation in House from re.

Satish Chandra Misra (BSP) said that retiring members would "remain torch bearers for us in future and show us way forward".

He said that if his Congress wants to bid farewell to Az n in that case people would bid farewell to party not him.

"It is not easy to lose Ghulam Nabi Az," he ded.

Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena) said he could not believe that Az is retiring from Rajya Sabha.

He suggested that since Az has seen a long tenure from days of Indira Gandhi to Narendra Modi, he should write an autobiography titled "From Indira to Modi".

He told House that Az has very rich political experience which is very rare in politics.

dressing Az, he said that you would never retire.

Raut also said that re is no dearth of leers in Congress, but "Az Sahib, re are few leers whom people know across country".

He ded he would not bid farewell to Az but wait for him to come back again here in House.

Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said name may be Ghulam (slave) but all remained Az (free).

He said that Az will always be remembered because "you are a large hearted person".

He also said that Az should be elected again to Rajya Sabha and if Congress does not want that n he and his party RPI would do that.

He ded that Rajya Sabha needed Az back.

Abdul Wahab (IUML) thanked Az for "wonderful leership" in House.

Congress leer Anand Sharma said Az has a very long and rich experience in various ministries and states.

He also said that Az is only person in party who remained general secretary of all states at different points of time including Tamil Nu, Maharashtra and Haryana.

Sharma termed Az as very frank and hardworking.

He said that Az was always of view that one should not get personal for ideology and re should not be bitterness on basis of ideology.

He also said that Az has risen through ranks and started from bottom and reached top position by working hard unlike overnight rise of leers of today.

Sharma said Az would play an important role in elections of Jammu and Kashmir whenever y are held and would continue to provide his services to nation.

Sukhendu Sekhar Ray (TMC) lauded Az's nature and hoped his party renominates him and brings him back in House.

A Navaneethakrishnan (AIMK) said J Jayalalithaa h asked him to interact with Az and or leers and he learnt a lot from him.

Prasanna Acharya (BJD) said Az has ability to befriend everybody in shortest possible time. He ded Kashmir is in his heart and mind and whenever he speaks about Jammu and Kashmir, his emotions come out.

Tiruchi Siva (DMK) said today was one of painful moments as he h to speak on farewell of a member from house. He said due to concern of Az, he has developed friendship with everyone. " house will be lacklustre in coming days," he said, hoping he returns to House soon.

K R Suresh Reddy (TRS) and Y Vijaisai Reddy (YSR-CP) recalled ir association with Az. Vijaisai Reddy wished that he may contribute his best to country.

Ram Gopal Yav (SP) said Kashmir is beautiful and it is represented in House by beautiful people.

"Ghulam Nabi Az acted as a bridge whenever re was a delock in House. He is a very calm and polite person. I wonder who will fill gap in house. I wish he comes back to house. This house will be poorer with Azs going. I hope he becomes chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir after its statehood is restored," he said.

Ram Chandra Pras Singh (JDU) said Az has played a great role in this house and wished him good. Elamaram Kareem (CPI-M) said as leer of opposition, Az tried to unite opposition parties but also united m ruling parties.

"As leer of opposition, he gave us perfect view. He always was a role model for all members. He is not just a leer of Congress party, but of entire country. I saw him roar like a lion on August 5, 2019," he said, recalling day when Article 370 was revoked in Jammu and Kashmir. Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD) and Satish Chandra Misra (BSP) wished Az good in life.