MADURAI: The outgoing 13th President of India Mr.Pranab Mukherjee was on Sunday evening (July 23rd 2017) accorded a warm farewell in the Central Hall of Parliament as he demits his office as first citizen and the nation’s supreme commander.
“With sadness and memories, I will be leaving this magnificent building. I take leave of you with a sense of fulfillment and happiness….I had spent 37 years of my life in this Parliament…I listened to stalwarts in my long career…In July 1969 I came to the Parliament,” he recalled replying to the honour given to him by members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Mr.Pranab Mukherjee said that he gratefully acknowledge and appreciate both the Houses of Parliament for organising a farewell to him.
“This is temple of our democracy, it created my political outlook I became MP on July 4th 1969 and this July I am leaving office as President. I saw and heard leaders of our freedom movement….my career was mentored by Smt.Indira Gandhi and later on I wtinessed the good work of P.V.Narasimha Rao and A.B.Vajpayee…”, he said.
MODI IS CORDIAL
The outgoing President mentioned in his speech about the cordial behaviour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is working for transforrmation of our country with various initiatives such as the GST.
‘I want to tell that disruptions of Parliament sessions hurts the Opposition parties most than the ruling party. When the GST was passed here, it showed the cooperative federalism of Indian Parliament…It was an unique experience….Parliamentary time for debates is declining and it is not good,” the President said.
Mr.Pranab Mukherjee has said that in the last five years in Rashtrapati Bhavan as the first citizen of this country, his responsibility was to function as guardian of our Constitution to preserve and protect the spirit with which it was given to us by our founding fathers.
SPEAKER PRAISES PRANAB
Earlier, the Vice-President of India Mr.Hameed Ansari and Lok Sabha Speaker Mrs.Sumithra Mahajan heaped praises on the outgoing President for his long and distinguished contributions as a Parliamentarian, in public service and as the President of India.
“You held the highest position with distinction and dignity…..our profound respects and regards to you…..from a small village in West Bengal. you came to the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi through a great journey. It is an inspiration for all of us,” the Lok Sabha Speaker Mrs.Sumitra Mahajan said.
She said that Mr.Pranab Mukherjee dedicated his life for national politics and made achievements as political leader, author, parliamentarian and in government as Union Minister.
“You are a man with great wisdom….you continue to guide us as an elder statesman with experience of your illustrious career…we wish you a long and healthy life,” Mrs.Mahajan said.
ERUDITE SKILLS AS LEADER
The Vice-President of India Mr.Hameed Ansari said that the political discourse of Pranab Mukherjee is highly regarded because of his erudite articulation skills and parliamentary performance.
“He told us about about three Ds – Debate, Dissent and Decision. He said there should not be 4th D and that is Disruption of Parliament,” Mr.Ansari recalled.
Opposition party leaders, MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were among those who attended the farewell to President Pranab Mukherjee in the central hall of Parliament (23rd July 2017).
