‘They have retired, not tired’: Rajya Sabha bids farewell to 11 members retiring in November

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha today bid farewell to its 11 members who are set to retire in November this year.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu announced the names of 11 members who will be retiring from the Upper House after completing their term in November 2020.

They include Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Neeraj Shekhar and Arun Singh of BJP, Samajwadi Party leaders Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav and Javed Ali Khan, Raj Babbar of Congress, Veer Singh of BSP.

“Today, we bid farewell to some of our colleagues from the state of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand namely Dr Chhatrapal Singh Yadav, Javed Ali Khan, PL Punia, Ravi Prakash Verma, Raja Ram, Ram Gopal Yadav, Veer Singh, Hardeep Singh Puri, Neeraj Shekhar, Arun Singh and Raj Babbar who would be retiring in the month of November,” Naidu said in Rajya Sabha.

“While retirement marks the completion of the terms of Rajya Sabha members, it also infuses them a sense of fulfillment and contentment of having to serve the people of this country. The retiring members have contributed significantly to this house. They have dedicated to the cause of democracy. Though many would come re-elected those who would not, the house will miss them,” he added.

Naidu lauded the retiring members, saying that they made significant and valuable contributions in the functioning of the Upper House and they will be missed.

Naidu said that the retiring members will continue to serve the cause of the people and strengthen democracy.

“They have retired but not tired. They will continue to serve the people and will address the cause of people. I wish them good health and happiness and many more years of service to the nation. I hope that they will strengthen democracy by serving the cause of people,” he said.

Rajya Sabha members are elected for a term of 6 years. 1-3rd of the members retire every second year and fresh elections are held to elect new members.