Your tone is sweeter than sweets: Shinde to Sushma in Lok Sabha

New Delhi: The 15th Lok Sabha, seen as the worst-ever as it saw many unprecedented low moments, came to an end on Friday on an harmonious note with leaders from ruling and opposition sides showering praise at each other amid calls for introspection of how the House functioned.

While bringing down curtains on the extended Winter Session, leaders emphasised that the bitterness witnessed during the proceedings was due to the members' desire to raise issues of 'public' and 'national' interest and it should be forgotten as there was nothing personal in that.

The outgoing Lok Sabha saw many tumultuous occasions and recorded unprecedented low moments. In 2012, the entire Winter Session was virtually washed out when the opposition pressed for setting up a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe 2G spectrum scam.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister and Leader of the Lok Sabha Sushilkumar Shinde, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj and some other leaders had good words about each other.

The Prime Minister, who made his farewell speech, noted that the House had the capacity to rise above partisan politics to enact crucial laws. In this context, he referred to the passage of the Telangana bill.

He hoped that 'birth of a new atmosphere of hope' will take place to take the country "out of this strife and tensionful atmosphere".

He expressed hope that "a new sense of consensus" will emerge to take the country to 'new pathways'.

At the same time, he highlighted some optimism when he said that the passage of the Telangana bill showed that the country can take 'difficult' decisions 'without worrying about pros and cons of things that do not matter'.

Singh, who has been the Prime Minister for the last 10 years, has declared that he will not opt for a third term.

Apparently referring to the upcoming general elections, he said people will have an opportunity to judge on 'performance, weaknesses and achievements' of the government.

He praised the role of the Leader of the Opposition.

Shinde played a statesman as he showered praise on the Opposition and particularly chose Swaraj to hail her party's support to get the crucial Telangana bill passed, even though initially he was not sure about the main opposition's backing.

Highlighting the beauty of Indian democracy, Shinde said the ruling and the opposition members might air their differences vociferously over various issues in Parliament but they do not carry those sentiments outside the House.

"We took decisions together on a number of subjects that have been pending for long," Shinde said, noting that the outgoing House had enacted a number of landmark laws like Lokpal, Food Security Act and Land Acquisition Act.

Referring to Telangana bill, which was passed by the House earlier this week, he said he was 'obliged' to BJP for its support.

He said he was not sure whether BJP would support the bill but "you did not sit on the prestige that the announcement for creation of the new state had been made by Sonia Gandhi 10 years back and you had also promised it."

Specifically, choosing Swaraj for the eloquent praise, Shinde said, "aap ki baat mein mithaas hai, mithai khane se bhi woh mithaas nahi hoti (your tone is very sweet, it is sweeter than the sweets)."

Reciprocating in similar vein, Swaraj praised Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and Shinde for their conduct.

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

At her witty best, Swaraj drew applause from members as she mentioned that Kamal Nath tried 'shararat (mischief)' while Shinde displayed 'sharafat (decency)'.

"We oppose each other but we are not enemies... We oppose ideologies... 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.

Conscious that her party will have to fight it out with Congress in the hustings, Swaraj said that she cannot bless them victory but can wish them glory. 'We should contest (elections) with dignity,' she added.

Swaraj and other leaders praised Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar over the way she conducted the House. Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said all the parties should forget the differences as the term of the Lok Sabha ends and they go to polls.

Expressing gratitude towards Sonia Gandhi, he said, "Whenever I have passed on slips to her requesting something, she has always acted on them."

He also used the occasion to praise BJP veteran L.K. Advani. He thanked the "elder" leader even while noting that he had differences with him. "This happens in democracy."

Singh mentioned some occasion when Advani, as Deputy Prime Minister, had called him to discuss some issue. He said Advani was very angry during the meeting but he forgot soon after and the relations between them were good.

In his typical style, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said the government at times behaves like 'dictator' and it is the responsibility of the opposition to criticise that.

"So, if the opposition is angry at times, you should not mind...Members don't raise issues for personal benefits but to ensure that people's interests are not affected," he said.

Basudeb Acharia (CPI-M) referred to turmoil seen in the House on several occasions and said there was a need to 'introspect' as to whether the members were behaving properly.

Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) also pressed the need for introspection of the way Parliament was functioning as he noted that the country is at 'crossroads'.

JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said nothing should be done which is beyond the Constitution. "Some parties try to make Constitution out of their manifestos, which is wrong," he said.

Yadav, whose party parted ways with BJP a few months ago, praised Swaraj, saying she had supported him whenever he raised any issue in the House. Similarly, 'I also supported her,' he said.

He said if there had been any acrimony, it should be forgotten.

Yadav praised late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi saying though we were in jail because of her but some of her decisions were very good. 'Indiraji's decisions still influence me,' he said.

TMC leader Saugata Roy said Parliament should remain united with members having proper manners, irrespective of the parties which they represent.

He also said Speaker Meira Kumar conducted the House in a graceful manner and observed that the 'trademark smile' is back on her face Friday.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said that the hardwork of farmers in making the country's agriculture sector strong.

Appreciating the support of Lok Sabha members for the cause of farmers, Pawar said India is now the largest exporter of rice.