Rajya Sabha adjourned till tomorrow

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day today after paying tribute to sitting BJD member Kalpataru Das and former members RS Gavai and BK Handique who died recently.

While Das (65) passed away here on July 25 after a prolonged battle with cancer, Gavai (86) who also served as governor of Bihar and Kerala, died on the same day. Handique (81) breathed his last in Guwahati yesterday.

Paying glowing tributes, Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari described Das as a "distinguished parlamentarian and a dedicated social worker" and said his death was a big loss to the country. Das represented Odisha in the House from April 2014.

The Chairman remembered Gavai as an "able administrator", who served as governor of Bihar and Kerala and was recepient of several awards including the National Press Award for his outstanding contribution to various fields of public life, including journalism.

He reprsented Maharashtra in the House from April 2000 to April 2006.

Remembering Handique, Ansari said he had founded many educational institutions and was actively involved in promoting crafts skills among women, setting up of community halls for tea plantation workers and minority population and organising relief work in natural calamities.

He served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence, Parliamentary Affairs, Chemical and Fertilizers and Mines and was also the Minister of Mines and Development of the North Eastern Region.

Handique represented Assam in the Upper House from April 1980 to April 1986.

After the obituary references, the Chairman adjourned the House for the day, as part of a practice whenever a sitting member passes away.