On August 10, 2017, the Rajya Sabha bid farewell to Mr. Hamid Ansari, the former Vice President of India. All the members of the house were filled with praises for the conduct of Mr. Ansari, during his entire term, and were also saddened by his adieu to the House.

The Hon’ble Prime Minister, in his Vote of Thanks, referred to Mr. Hamid Ansari, as a distinguished politician, and said that “You belong to a great family that participated in the freedom movement. I have special regards, good wish from my side to you”.

The Hon’ble Chairman of the House was also praised by many politicians of the Opposition parties who stated that he was a successful Chief of Protocol, under the Indira Gandhi Tenure and was the best empire of the House.

Mr Sitaram Yechury, went on to call him, a rock in defence in the interest of this House. He further said that “As you are leaving, the only regret I have is that we are still not settled. I wish you continue to share your wisdom with us even after leaving this house.”

In his Farewell Speech, Mr. Ansari with a heavy heart, stated that, “A decade is a long time in the life of an individual. It is easy yet imprudent to reflect upon it at this early stage, The generosity if he sentiments of the speakers and I acknowledge its intensity and thank them individually.”

He reminisced about his first day of the House, when an eminent speaker told him that even though he might face a lot of difficulties since the day he enters the house, he must stay happy and should keep smiling.

Mr. Ansari, in his words with respect to the House, maintained that the role of the Upper House should be a calibrated restraint on hasty legislation. He stated that “It has upheld that discussion is an indispensable preliminary to wise action, deviation from this golden rule neither to diligent policy making nor to our claim to be a mature democracy.”

He, further expressed his views on the importance of opposition in a democracy and said that “Democracy will become a tyranny if it doesn’t allow the opposition to question the government’s policy.”

Former Union Minister, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu is to succeed Mr. Ansari.