RS departs from convention in paying tributes to Jaitley, others

The Rajya Sabha made a rare departure from convention on Monday to allow a motion of condolence to mourn the death of a sitting member, as leaders across the political divide paid rich tributes to former Union finance minister Arun Jaitley instead of just the Chairman making an obituary reference.

A condolence motion, on which leaders of various political parties are allowed to speak, is generally reserved for condoling the death of a sitting or past President, prime minister or a prominent chief minister.

In cases of a sitting and former member, the chair in the Upper House reads out obituary references before members rise as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed. The House adjourns proceedings if a sitting member passes away, while in case of former members, it takes up the listed agenda soon after the mourning.

But since the obituary was of Jaitley, a man who had personally touched the political lives of many leaders across the political spectrum, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu allowed members to speak.

Once the leaders had spoken, Naidu adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm as a mark of respect to Jaitley and Ram Jethmalani, both sitting members.

In his obituary reference, Naidu described Jaitley as a "quintessential politician" and a "man of impeccable integrity" whose stellar contribution is a matter of record.

An advocate by profession and a member of the Upper House since April 2000, Jaitley passed away on August 24 at the age of 66.

"Destiny has untimely snatched a sagacious leader, a legal luminary and a towering intellectual from our midst," Naidu said. "For me, Arunji was an epitome of versatility, a multifaceted genius whose wise counsel and sagacity, I have always relied upon."
"In the passing away of Shri Arun Jaitley, the country has lost an outstanding parliamentarian, a legal luminary, an eloquent orator, an able administrator and a man of impeccable integrit, who inspired one and all with his exemplary presence in social, political, legal and economic spheres," Naidu said. "His void is irreparable and will be deeply felt in political circles."