Prime Minister Narendra Modi bid farewell to outgoing Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday and praised him.
Meanwhile, speaking in the house, Venkaiah Naidu said “The day PM told me that I was being selected to become the Vice President of India, I was in tears, I didn’t ask for it. Party had given the mandate, I obliged & resigned from the party. Tears were because I had to leave the party”
However, while bidding farewell, PM Modi spoke these words: Find few quotes from the PM’s speech.
Venkaiah Naidu ji has always said that you have retired from politics but are not tired of public life… Your term in the office may be coming to an end, but your experiences will continue to guide the nation for years to come.
The things I admire him the most for is his passion for Indian languages. This was reflected in how he presided over the House. Naidu ji has an interesting take on the debate over mother tongue. You always say that a mother tongue is like the eyes, while a second language is like a pair of spectacles. You have ensured that members can speak in any language in the House.
I should mention that, under your chairmanship, the productivity of the Rajya Sabha has increased by 70 per cent. The attendance of MPs has also increased. As many as 177 Bills have been passed or discussed. You have taken several decisions that will be remembered for the upward journey of the Upper House.
Venkaiah ji always had the opinion that disruptions of proceedings beyond a point were contempt of the House. I see the spirit of democracy in your principles… you have not only run the House through dialogue, liaison and coordination but also made it productive. When MPs disagreed, you always stated, ‘Let the government propose, let the opposition oppose, and let the House decide.’
I feel that it is quite significant that we are celebrating Independence Day this time, when the country’s President, Vice-President, Speaker, and Prime Minister are all those people who were born in Independent India and all of them hail from very ordinary backgrounds.
The Prime Minister praised Naidu for his one-liners are wit-liners and win-liners as well. Furthermore, every word he speaks is heard, liked, admired, and never contested. Every word has both depth and substance, that’s what makes Naidu special.
The PM said, Personally, it has been my fortune that I have seen you closely in different roles. I also had the fortune to work with you in some of those roles. Be it your ideological commitment as a party worker, your work as an MLA, or your activity in the House as an MP.
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