New Delhi: “There is no full-stop in politics,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, while bidding farewell to the 59 members retiring from the Rajya Sabha between April and July.
Calling Parliament an “open University”, the PM urged the outgoing lawmakers to continue contributing to public life.
“Such moments naturally dissolve partisan divides,” Modi said in his address to the Upper House on the occasion of the biennial farewell.
“A shared sentiment emerges within us all – the realisation that our colleagues are now moving forward to undertake other endeavours,” he said.
“In politics, there is no such thing as a full stop. The future awaits you as well, and your experience will forever remain an enduring part of our national life,” he said, referring to the members who do not plan to return, The New Indian Express reported.
The PM reserved special praise for three senior leaders – former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and NCP chief Sharad Pawar – call
ing them stalwarts who have spent more than half their lives in Parliamentary proceedings.
“The manner in which they continue to attend the House with such dedication is truly exemplary – a spirit from which all new Parliamentarians ought to learn,” he said.
He also paid tribute to outgoing deputy chairman Harivansh, describing him as “gentle and soft-spoken” yet a “man of rigorous action”.
Harivansh had continued to travel across the country during recess periods, engaging with the youth on issues of national importance, Modi noted.
In a lighter vein, Modi singled out Union minister Ramdas Athawale. “Our Athawale-ji is truly evergreen,” he said, drawing laughter in the House.
“He is departing, yet I am confident no one will feel a void – he will continue to serve tirelessly.”
The PM reflected on the bicameral structure of Parliament, likening the the passage of legislation between the two Houses to seeking a “second opinion” – a practice, he said, that strengthens democratic decision-making.
“A decision taken in one House goes to the other for a second opinion. This gives new direction to the entire debate and the decision-making process,” he said.
Some outgoing members had the rare distinction of having served in both old and new Parliament buildings, Modi noted. He described a six-year Rajya Sabha term as “an invaluable opportunity to shape one’s life”, offering the Parliamentarians deep insight into the nuances of national affairs.