“I always felt that paradise is India. I was born after independence. I am among those lucky people who never went to Pakistan. When I read about the circumstances in Pakistan, I feel proud to be an Hindustani Muslim,” said the veteran Congress . leader while delivering his farewell speech.
Recalling the terrorist attack that took place in Jammu and Kashmir during his tenure as chief minister, Azad said: “I pray to God to end the militancy and terrorism in this country.”
The outgoing RS member, whose term will come to an end next week, said that unlike Muslim societies around the world that are infested with infighting, Indian Muslims have lived together and should continue to do so.
Azad began his farewell speech in the Upper House by thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his colleagues at Rajya Sabha for their thanks and applause for their work.
“I have learned a lot from this Parliament. I was initiated as the party’s general secretary during the tenure of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi,” Azad said.
“I can’t forget how Indira ji used to tell us that she communicates with Atal ji and not with the BJP,” Azad said, adding that the late former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee also became an inspiration to him.
“Later I learned from Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji how to be the leader of the opposition. He made it look easy,” Azad said to applause from the RS.
“In my time as the leader of the opposition, I have tried to raise the issues of education, infrastructure and politics. I ask my colleagues to debate a few days and then discuss a few days and ensure that the laws do not stagnate forever. he said.
Azad retires from Rajya Sabha on February 15 after being the leader of the opposition for more than six years since June 8, 2014.
Rajya Sabha says goodbye to Azad
Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke down several times in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday as he recalled his close association with Azad.
Sharing details of his communication during a terrorist attack against some Gujarati pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir, Modi said that Azad was the first to call him about the incident.
With tears rolling down her cheeks, Modi said Azad cried during the call while informing him about the horrific attack.
“Azad was the first person to call me. During that call he couldn’t stop crying,” Modi said in a choked voice as tears rolled down her eyes.
Previously, the President of Rajya Sabha, M Venkaiah Naidu, described Azad as a voice of sanity in public life for a few decades when he made valuable contributions while serving in both government and opposition.
Naidu said Azad’s retirement is particularly painful given that the House has lost Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar said Azad was the most experienced leader in the country and ran many ministries. He also said that Azad raised the profile of the opposition leader in the House.
(With inputs from agencies)
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