Rajya Sabha today bid farewell to 59 members; PM Modi calls their contribution relevant & valuable

New Delhi, March 18
The Rajya Sabha today bid farewell to 59 members from 20 states, including 9 women members. Speaking during the farewell, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that their contribution to parliamentary democracy will always be remembered. He said that in politics, there is never a full stop, as their experience and contribution to the nation will always remain relevant and valuable. He said the retiring members have made immense contributions to the House.
PM Modi said this is an occasion that every two years immerses the Members in emotional moments in this House. He said when such an occasion comes, the respect is expressed towards the colleagues who are moving forward for a special purpose.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that everyone in the House has made significant contributions to the many issues discussed in the House. He said there are also some bitter and sweet experiences but, when such an occasion arises, it is natural that members rise above party lines and a common sentiment emerges among all. Prime Minister Modi said this House, in itself, is an open university and it provides an opportunity to become enriched with the many finer aspects of national life.
Mentioning Deputy chairman Harivansh who is also retiring Mr Modi said he had the opportunity to discharge his responsibilities in this House for a long time. The Prime Minister said Mr Harivansh has always tried to win the confidence of everyone while conducting the proceedings of the House. Prime Minister Modi also mentioned H.D. Deve Gowda, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Sharad Pawar and their valuable contributions to the House.
He said these are senior leaders who have spent more than half of their lives in parliamentary functioning. He further added that new members of Parliament should learn from them how to come to the House with dedication, contribute as much as possible, and remain fully committed to the responsibilities given by the society.
Earlier, addressing the House, the Chairman of the House C. P. Radhakrishnan said the retirement of one-third of Rajya Sabha members every two years reflects the constitutional design of the Council of States, which allows experienced lawmakers to make way for new members while preserving institutional stability. He said the system ensures continuity in the functioning of the House and at the same time creates space for fresh voices to enrich parliamentary debates with new ideas. The Chairman said the retirement of members should not be seen as an end, but as the beginning of new responsibilities and public roles.
He noted that while new members will carry forward the legacy of the House with renewed energy and commitment, the experience and wisdom of outgoing members will continue to guide future generations of parliamentarians.
Making the remarks on the bid farewell to retiring MPs in the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge said those in politics, public life, neither get tired nor retire for the passion to serve the country. Mr Kharge said that he always tries to attend all the proceedings of the House to gain the knowledge from the other members.
In his address, Deputy Chairman Harivansh called for consensus on national issues, stating, the nation comes first, followed by political parties. He acknowledged the collective efforts that contribute to the functioning of Parliament and appreciated the cooperation he received across party lines.
During their address MPs urged the government to increase the working hours of the Parliament to increase its effectiveness and focus on the issues of the common man. They have also submitted demands for a stronger attendance in the Parliament.
YSRCP MP Ayodhya Rami Reddy Alla submitted to the Chair that Parliament must hold frequent sessions to discuss issues to increase its effectiveness. He also urged the Chair to look into the low attendance issues in the House.
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien retiring members were moving on to new roles to continue their public life. Mr Brien noted that many of the retiring MPs had the rare distinction of serving under three Rajya Sabha chairman , M Venkaiah Naidu, Jagdeep Dhankhar and the incumbent CP Radhakrishnan , during their six-year tenure. He also highlighted the contributions of younger parliamentarians and said the House reflected a blend of experience and youth.
DMK’s Tiruchi Siva described the moment as not the end of the road but only the bend of the road and exuded confidence that retiring members would continue contributing to public life. He said parting was inevitable but difficult, as he recalled long associations with colleagues cutting across party lines.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh said farewell moments were painful and emotional. Recalling close personal bonds formed in parliamentary committees, he urged the Chair to allow former members access to the inner lobby of the Rajya Sabha as earlier.
BJD member Sasmit Patra said such occasions underscored that beyond political differences; members are united by a shared commitment to public service.
After the farewell, the House was adjourned till Monday 11 AM.