Sushma praises Sonia, moves Advani to tears

New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI): Putting behind the acrimony witnessed during the session, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj today praised Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders, returning the accolades received in the Lok Sabha.

Swaraj, who had once said that she will tonsure her head if Sonia Gandhi becomes Prime Minister, today said she was a graceful leader.

As she spoke for the last time in the 15th Lok Sabha, which was today adjourned sine die, Swaraj showered praise on BJP patriarch L K Advani who was seen with moist eyes.

Swaraj, who was at her witty best, drew applause from members as she mentioned that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath tried "shararat (mischief)" ways, while Leader of the House Sushilkumar Shinde displayed "sharafat (decency)".

Besides, she said UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's gracefulness and the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's gentleness helped in conduct of the 15th Lok Sabha.

While Swaraj appreciated the "nayay priyata (judicious)" approach of Advani, the BJP patriarch was seen with moist eyes and trying hard to control his tears.

"We are going back with so many sweet and sour memories," Swaraj said.

When the history of the 15th Lok Sabha is written, it will say that for most of the time there were interruptions but most awaited bills were also passed during this time, she noted.

She mentioned that many important bills including those related to Telangana, street vendors and land acquisition were passed in the 15th Lok Sabha.

"We oppose each other but we are not enemies... We oppose ideologies," she said.Swaraj also said that she cannot bless them victory but can wish them glory. "We should contest (elections) with dignity," she added.

Earlier News

MPs bid farewell, PM addresses parliament for the last time

New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS): Members Friday bid farewell on the last day of the 15th Lok Sabha's last session Friday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, addressing parliament for the last time, saying the general elections would give the people an opportunity to form a new consensus to take the country on to new paths.

Manmohan Singh, who has been the prime minister for a decade, said the Indian parliament, despite differences among members, has the capacity to rise above partisan strife on key matters.

The prime minister, who announced he will not seek a third term in office in case the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is voted back to power, said the passage of the Telangana bill was an indication that the country is capable of taking tough decisions "without any rancour and without worrying too much about the pros and cons".

His wife Gursharan Kaur was also seen sitting in the speaker's gallery Friday morning.

In his address, the prime minister said that in parliamentary proceedings there are bound to be differences among parties, "but there must also be ways and means to bring pathways, to bring minimum amount of consistency and reconciliation" so that matters can move forward.

Speaking on the occasion, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said the 15th Lok Sabha may have witnessed many disruptions but it passed some of the landmark bills.

"When history will be written, it will be recorded... that the 15th Lok Sabha saw the highest number of obstructions, but on other side it passed some of the most awaited bills," she said.

"The nation awaited for Lokpal (bill) for 40 years, I feel proud that this Lok Sabha passed the Lokpal bill. People were waiting for Telangana bill for years..." she said naming some of the bills.

"My brother (parliament Affairs Minister) Kamal Nath sometimes stirred trouble with his mischief, (Home Minister Sushilkumar) Shinde ji used to resolve it with his decency. Between this mischief and decency was Sonia Gandhi's intervention, the mild-mannered prime minister, the speaker's patience and L.K. Advani's sense of justice, these are what kept the house ticking," the leader of opposition added.

Shinde used the chance to compliment Sushma Swaraj, who accepted it with a smile.

"Sushmaji sometimes gets so angry that I get worried that she will stop talking to me. But the moment she leaves the house, the sweetness in her words can't be matched even by mithais. I thank her for her support on Telangana," he said.

Speaker Meira Kumar also addressed the lower house for the last time as the speaker and thanked the members fro electing her as the first woman speaker.

"The language in the Parliament was male oriented but the 15th Lok Sabha decided to use a gender neutral language," she said.

She also recounted the work done by the 15th Lok Sabha, naming important bills including the bill on manual scavenging, the bill on sexual harassment of women at workplace, amendments in criminal law to make punishment on rape more stringent, the right to education bill, land acquisition bill, Lokpal bill and bill on Telangana among others.

"We succeeded in finding solutions, sometimes failed," she said.

The speaker then adjourned the house sine die.