New Delhi: Bidding farewell to four outgoing members of Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today sang high praises for Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and got emotional while reminiscing an instance when Azad served as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Modi heaped praise on the Congress veteran who sat across him in the Rajya Sabha, and teared up as he shared an episode when they were both Chief Ministers – of Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir.
“I have known Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad for years. We were Chief Ministers together. We had interacted even before I became Chief Minister, when Azad Sahab was very much in active politics. He has a passion not many know about – gardening,” Modi said.
He referred to a 2006 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on visitors from Gujarat. Azad was the first to call him to inform him about the incident. The Prime Minister said Azad’s tears would not stop.
“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 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…,” Modi broke off again and saluted him, letting that gesture speak more than words. “That was a very emotional moment for me.”