Teary-Eyed Modi Bids An Emotional Farewell To Veteran Congress Leader Ghulam Nabi Azad

While recalling an episode from the years when he and Ghulam Nabi Azad were both Chief Ministers - of Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi became emotional on Tuesday (09 February), reports NDTV.

In his farewell speech to the outgoing leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nab Azad, PM Modi recalled the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir affecting the pilgrims from Gujarat and narrated the complications he faced as Chief Minister to bring back the dead bodies to the state.

“I will never forget Shri Azad's efforts and Pranab Mukherjee's efforts when people from Gujarat were stuck in Kashmir due to a terror attack. That night Ghulam Nabi Ji called me. He cared for those people like you would care for a member of your family,” a teary-eyed Modi said.

ANI also shared archival footage of a distraught Ghulam Nabi Azad meeting the family members of the terror attack victim, as he sought their forgiveness.

"Power comes and goes. But how to handle it...," PM Modi broke off again and saluted the Congress veteran Azad who sat across him in the upper house.

“I would not let you retire, I will continue taking your advice. My doors are always open for you,” PM Modi said about Congress leader Azad who is slated to retire on February 15.

“Whoever takes over in his (Azad) stead will have a problem; they will have to work really hard to fill his shoes,” Modi added.

The four Upper House members from the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir are going to complete their stints by 15 February this year. They include Two MPs from the Peoples Democratic Party, Nazir Ahmed Laway and Mir Mohammed Fayaz, veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Shamsher Singh Manhas.