V-P gets emotional remembering Ananth Kumar

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu Tuesday had a tough time controlling his emotions as he mentioned the passing away of former Union minister and “dear friend” Ananth Kumar. At the beginning of the winter session of Parliament, Naidu, as per tradition, read out the obituary references of leaders who had passed away during the intervening period between the Monsoon and the current sessions.

He first read out the obituary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee followed by that of former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, and a dozen other leaders. As he started reading the obituary of Kumar, who had passed away on November 12, Naidu got emotional and his voice choked. Recalling the contribution of Kumar, the Rajya Sabha chairman said he had lost a “dear and personal friend” in the untimely death of the parliamentary affairs minister.