Teary-eyed Modi praises Azad, will take his advice
PM says difficult for successor to match Azad’s standards
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday bid a tearful farewell to Congress veteran and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, saying that he respects the Congress leader as a “true friend” and will not let him retire, and will continue taking his advice.
Mr Modi said it would be difficult for Mr Azad’s successor in the Rajya Sabha to match him as he has set very high standards as an MP and as the Leader of the Opposition.
Calling himself a “proud Hindustani Muslim” who did not go to Pakistan, Mr Azad recalled how he learnt a lot from Parliament, late PMs Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and got inspired from former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee, and prayed that militancy should end in the country.
Praising the PM, Mr Azad said Mr Modi never mixed personal context and his
At a personal level, I would request him to not believe that he is not in the House. My door is always open for all of you. I will always expect and value your inputs.
— NARENDRA MODI, Prime Minister (addressing Ghulam Nabi Azad)
party’s responsibilities and used to be among the first ones to wish him on festivals and birthdays.
“One thing I would like to say about Mr Azad that the next LoP will have a difficult time in matching his work because he was not only concerned about his party but also about the country and the House,” said the PM, and revealed how it was the Congress leader who had suggested to him to call a meeting of all party leaders during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the PM was holding a meeting of the floor leaders.
Mr Modi had tears as he recalled the 2007 terrorist attack on a tourist bus carrying Gujaratis in J&K when both him and Mr Azad were chief ministers. The PM recalled how Mr Azad was the first one to call him, all teared up, and took care of the pilgrims from Gujarat as they were like his family members.
“Posts come and go but how to remain sane… is something one should learn from him. It was a very emotional time for me… I respect him as a friend. I am sure that his nature and his zeal to work for the nation will never let him rest,” said the PM, while adding that his door will always remain open for Mr Azad and the other retiring members.
“I would not let you retire, will continue taking your advice,” Modi said in a tearful farewell to Mr Azad in the Upper House.