BJD member takes oath; Rajya Sabha condoles Sharad Joshi's death

NEW DELHI: BJD member Narendra Kumar Swain today took oath as the new member of Rajya Sabha.

When Chairman Hamid Ansari called for oath or affirmation, Swain, who was elected to the Upper House from Odisha in this month's by-elections, came up and took oath in English.

Ansari also mentioned of the passing away of former member Sharad Anantrao Joshi on December 12 at the age of 80 years.

An agriculturist and economist, Joshi represented the state of Maharashtra from July 2004 to July 2010.

"In passing away of Sharad Anantrao Joshi, the country has lost an able parliamentarian, a dedicated social worker and an activist of farmer rights," he said, as members rose in their places as a mark of respect to the memory of departed.