Rajya Sabha bade farewell to the outgoing Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on Thursday.
A career-diplomat and politician Mohammad Hamid Ansari has completed two successful terms as Vice-President of India.
During his farewell speech, Hamid Ansari said: The chair is like an umpire in cricket or referee in hockey, witnessing the play without becoming a player. After his comment on Wednesday that " a feeling of unease, a sense of insecurity is creeping in" among the country's Muslims, some people reacted angrily on social media. This is how the other politicians bade farewell to Hamid Ansari.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Your diplomatic insights were invaluable, especially when I discussed with you before and after my bilateral visits. You have been a career diplomat, what it means I got to know when I became prime minister. Observing you, I saw mannerisms of a career diplomat.
CPI(M) MP Sitaram Yechury: You stood like a rock in defense of this House. You had a distinguished career. I recollected the reputation that you came with, apart from the glorious reputation you had, you were known as the best umpire that Aligarh University ever produced. You have conducted it all in a very meticulous fashion.
BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain: There is no better country than India for Muslims and no better friend than Hindus.
Finance minister Arun Jaitley: We all will miss you. We will always miss you as the Chair of the House. We wish you good health and good luck for future. Hamid Ansari leaves us with great memories.
The leader of Opposition, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said that he has seen Ansari as the Chief of Protocol several times. He rues that in earlier times the Chief of Protocol was always seen in the photographs with prime minister, however, now it has changed.
A. Navaneethakrishnan of AIADMK said that late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa greatly respected Ansari and he was always in her good books. He said that Ansari has been polite and considerate towards others.
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien: Despite the nature of work, he (Hamid Ansari) was always jovial. Hamid Ansari had a different perspective on even the most serious issues.
JD-U leader Ali Akbar: Ansari spoke little but his words were always heartfelt.
