RS Chairman urges members to uphold Constitution

CP Radhakrishnan on Monday urged members to uphold the Constitution and follow parliamentary norms while adhering to the ‘Lakshman Rekha’ as envisaged under the rules of the Upper House. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and leaders from various political parties felicitated him in the Upper House.

In his maiden speech after presiding over the House proceedings for the first time, the Chairman also called upon members to respect institutions and understand their responsibilities towards the nation. He also urged the members to help in making India a developed nation.

Radhakrishnan said the Upper House has a vast amount of business to transact, and the time will be a challenging factor for both the members and the chair.

“Everyone, be it the chairman or the members, we all should understand our responsibilities towards the nation. The Constitution of India, along with the rules books of the Rajya Sabha, determines the Lakshmana Rekha for parliamentary discourse. Every individual member’s rights must be ensured, but within the Lakshman Rekha, as I mentioned. I will always do my best to protect all your rightful claims,” Radhakrishnan said in his first remarks in the Upper House.

He thanked Prime Minister Modi and all other members of the House for felicitating him on the first day of the Winter Session of the Parliament.

He said that Parliamentary practice and procedures such as question hour, zero hour and special mentions provide ample opportunities to every individual member to raise the pressing issues and concerns of the citizens in the House.

“Let us commit ourselves to ensuring that our actions inside this House reflect the aspirations of every farmer, every worker, every street vendor, every woman and youth and the poorest of the poor who look at the Parliament with a lot of hope. We need to fulfil our constitutional commitment towards social justice and economic empowerment of scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, backward classes and the other weaker sections of the society,” Radhakrishnan said.

Prime Minister Modi praised the newly appointed Rajya Sabha Chairman, highlighting his rise from a modest, farmer-background family to a key constitutional position as a testament to the strength of Indian democracy.

Modi said Radhakrishnan’s life has been marked by unwavering dedication to social service, noting that political office has been only one aspect of his public contribution. “His journey inspires all who seek to serve society,” he said.

In September, Chandrapuram Ponnusami (CP) Radhakrishnan was elected as India’s 15th Vice President, a post that made him the ex officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Modi was speaking at his felicitation at the start of the winter session of Parliament, the first session that Radhakrishnan is presiding over as the chairman of the Upper House.

The Prime Minister recounted his exemplary tenure across various roles, including Governor of multiple states and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, where he worked closely with local communities, often defying protocol to ensure outreach.

He also cited two incidents from his early life - surviving a childhood near-drowning and a bomb blast in Coimbatore - which shaped his commitment to public service.

Modi highlighted Radhakrishnan’s personal values, including his spiritual resolve inspired during a visit to Varanasi, his youth leadership, and his steadfast stand for democracy during the Emergency. “He has always chosen the path of struggle over the easy way, motivating generations of young citizens”.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that under his leadership, Rajya Sabha members would uphold the dignity and prestige of the House while contributing to the nation’s progress.

He said Radhakrishan’s life has been rooted in social service, with politics being only one facet. “From his youth to today, he has remained committed to serving society. His journey from an ordinary family to this position inspires all who wish to contribute to public life,” he noted.

Recalling his tenure in various constitutional roles, Modi said, “Whether as Governor in Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Telangana, or Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, he built close connections with local communities. In Jharkhand, he regularly visited villages and engaged with tribal communities, often ignoring protocol and logistics to ensure outreach”.

The Prime Minister shared two significant incidents from his life that shaped his public service ethos. “As a child, he narrowly survived a near-drowning incident at Avinashi temple pond. Later, he narrowly escaped a bomb blast in Coimbatore targeting LK Advani’s yatra, which killed 60-70 people. He transformed these experiences into a lifelong commitment to serving society.”

He also recounted a personal anecdote from Varanasi: “During his first visit to Kashi, he decided to give up non-vegetarian food after receiving the blessings of Maa Ganga. This reflects his spiritual resolve and capacity for self-transformation, which inspires others”.

Kharge assured the Chairman of cooperation from the Congress party in the smooth conduct of the House, as he also urged him to treat the Opposition and Treasury benches equally.