New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi choked up and struggled to speak in parliament today during a farewell to a rival politician, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad in the Rajya Sabha, while recollecting how Azad helped Gujarati pilgrim after terror attack way back before years when he was the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir and Modi was Chief Minister of Gujarat.

“I will never forget Shri Azad’s efforts and Pranab Mukherjee’s efforts when people from Gujarat were stuck in Kashmir due to a terror attack. That night…Ghulam Nabi Ji called me…,” he recalled, fighting tears, and then paused for water.

“He sounded concerned like people are concerned about their own family members. That is the kind of feeling he showed.” As the Prime Minister stopped to gather himself, there was loud desk-thumping.

“Power comes and goes. But how to handle it…,” PM Modi stopped again and saluted him, letting that gesture speak more than words.
“That was a very emotional moment for me.”

The PM told Mr Azad, whose Rajya Sabha term ends on February 15: “I would not let you retire, I will continue taking your advice. My doors are always open for you.”

Describing the Congress leader as a “true friend”, he remarked that he was a tough act to follow. “The person who will replace Ghulam Nabi ji as Leader of Opposition will have difficulty matching his work because he was not only concerned about his party but also about the country and the House,” he said.

From ANI Archives 30 July 2007: Then J&K CM Ghulam Nabi Azad sees off terrorist attack victims from Gujarat

Earlier today, PM Modi got emotional in Parliament when referring to this incident pic.twitter.com/2v5LVAXU1c

— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021