Venkaiah Naidu will give us a tough time in Rajya Sabha, says Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu as the Chairman of Rajya Sabha for the first time on Friday. ''He is the first Vice President who was born in independent India. Venkaiah ji knows the working of Rajya Sabha very well, being in the house for so long, he has seen how the house work," said Modi. Adding further, Modi said, Venkaiah Naidu will give us a tough time in Rajya Sabha as he is a task master.

Hailing Naidu as a son of farmer, Modi said,''It is an honour for us to have people coming from poor and rural families sit on highest constitutional posts. He has worked for them and always talked about the development of rural India."

"Venkaiah ji is one of the few leaders presiding over this house who has a deep understanding of rural issues. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna was his gift to the nation," Modi said.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad also welcomed Naidu as new Chairman and said,"We are proud to have a Chairman from the humble beginings and a rural background and I must salute the strength of democracy and the Constitution that enabled one and all to rise through the ranks and reach here."

Speaking on this occasion, Dy Chairman PJ Kurian said, "My best wishes and greetings to him and we are ready to extend a warm welcome to him as chairman of Rajya Sabha".The deputy chairman also added that Naidu's vast experience as a parliamentarian and parliamentary affairs minister will help him take charge of the new responsibility.

The Monsoon Session of Parliament will come to an end on Friday after 19 days of pitched battles on issues ranging from the Doklam standoff, mob lynchings, the defection drama in Gujarat to the missing Indians in war-torn Iraq. The day will also mark the change of guards in Rajya Sabha, with M Venkaiah Naidu taking over as the Chairman of the Upper House from outgoing vice-president M Hamid Ansari.

Vice-President elect M Venkaiah Naidu took oath as the next Vice-President of India at Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan at 10 am. The oath taking ceremony was attended by all Union ministers along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a number of dignitaries. Following the ceremony, the new vice-president will also take charge as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

OneIndia News