Rajya Sabha bid farewell to five members, including BJP leader Jugalsinh Lokhandwala (BJP) who will retire on 18th August 2023, and recall their contribution to the House. Out of the nine retiring members, four have been re-elected and the House will miss the other five members, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said.
Four members, S Jaishankar of BJP and 3 AITC members Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Derek O Brien and Dola Sen have re-elected to the Upper House while the five retiring members are Jugalsinh Lokhandwala and Dineshchandra Jemalbhai Anavadiya of the BJP, Sushmita Dev and Shanta Chhetri from the AITC and Pradip Bhattacharya from Congress.
Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said :
“The five retiring members have made rich and significant contribution to the proceedings of the House during the course of their tenure. I am sure they would cherish the unique honour of their association with the House and will continue with their contribution to the nation at large,”.
Jagdeep Dhankhar also urge the retiring members to maintain contact with MPs with whom they have spent a major part in the House.
Asserting that there is no retirement in politics, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said they are not retiring permanently.
Jagdeep Dhankhar said :
“Politics is not a government service but a life long service,”.
Leader of House Piyush Goyal highlight the contribution of S Jaishankar in the House and at the global level as external affairs minister, leading to uproar in the House At this point, the Jagdeep Dhankhar intervened and said :
“Leader of the House has reflected on a particular member. I share your sentiment. Every member who is retiring and could have retired but continuing because of re-election have made significant contribution. Those who get as opportunity as minister have a different kind of performance and we are proud of that.”
“But we are equally proud of the members who did not have the occasion because their parties are not in power. The implication of LoH is not a reflection on another member,”.
Piyush Goyal later said the Opposition should not have assume that he will not mention about the contribution of other members.
Raising a point of order, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said it has a tradition that the prime minister remains in the House during the farewell of retiring members, and said :
“Please call him today at least and not insult the Rajya Sabha like this.”
Before laying the papers, Piyush Goyal congratulate Jagdeep Dhankhar for completing one year as vice president and chairman of the Upper House.
On this, Mallikarjun Kharge said had he inform earlier, everyone could have spoken a few words on completion of Jagdeep Dhankhar’s one year as vice president.
