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Prime Minister Narendra Modi connected Wednesday (March 18, 2026) paid tributes to 59 members retiring from the Rajya Sabha betwixt April and July, calling Parliament "an unfastened university" and urging outgoing legislators to proceed contributing to nationalist life.
Addressing the Upper House connected the juncture of the biennial farewell, Mr. Modi said specified moments people dissolve partisan divides.
"A shared sentiment emerges wrong america each — the realisation that our colleagues are present moving guardant to undertake different endeavours," helium said.
To members who bash not program to return, the Prime Minister offered reassurance: "In politics, determination is nary specified happening arsenic a afloat stop. The aboriginal awaits you arsenic well, and your acquisition volition everlastingly stay an enduring portion of our nationalist life." Mr. Modi reserved peculiar praise for 3 elder leaders — erstwhile Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, and Nationalist Congress Party(SP) main Sharad Pawar — calling them stalwarts who person spent much than fractional their lives successful Parliamentary proceedings.
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"The mode successful which they proceed to be the House with specified dedication is genuinely exemplary — a tone from which each caller Parliamentarians ought to learn," helium said.
The Prime Minister besides paid tribute to outgoing Deputy Chairman Harivansh, describing him arsenic "gentle and soft-spoken" yet a "man of rigorous action". He noted that Harivansh had continued to question crossed the state during recess periods, engaging with the younker connected issues of nationalist importance.
In a lighter vein, Mr. Modi singled retired Union Minister Ramdas Athawale. "Our Athawale-ji is genuinely evergreen," helium said, drafting laughter successful the House.
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"He is departing, yet I americium assured nary 1 volition consciousness a void — helium volition proceed to service tirelessly." Reflecting connected the bicameral operation of Parliament, the Prime Minister likened the transition of authorities betwixt the 2 Houses to seeking a "second opinion" — a practice, helium said, that strengthens antiauthoritarian decision-making.
"A determination taken successful 1 House goes to the different for a 2nd opinion. This gives caller absorption to the full statement and the decision-making process," helium said.
Mr. Modi besides noted that immoderate outgoing members had the uncommon favoritism of having served successful some aged and caller Parliament buildings. He described a six-year Rajya Sabha word arsenic "an invaluable accidental to signifier one's life", offering legislators heavy penetration into the nuances of nationalist affairs.
