AMN /
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day today after making obituary references to a sitting member, Haji Abdul Salam and four former members of the House. They included former Lok Sabha Speaker Rabi Ray.
When the House met for the second part of the Budget session, Chairman Hamid Ansari mentioned the passing away of Salam on February 28 at the age of 69 years. Salam represented Manipur in the Upper House since April 2014.
Mr Ansari also referred to the passing away of former members Puttapaga Radhakrishna, P Shiv Shanker, Syed Shahabuddin and Rabi Ray who was also a member of the Upper House.
Shahabuddin, who passed away on the 4th of this month at the age of 81 years, represented Bihar in Rajya Sabha from July 1979 to April 1984. A writer and ideologue, he was known for his strong belief in the federal structure of India, Mr Ansari said.
Ray passed away on the 6th of March at the age of 90 years. He represented Odisha in the Upper House form April 1974 to April 1980. Radhakrishna, an advocate by profession, represented Andhra Pradesh in Rajya Sabha from April 1984 to April 1990. Shiv Shanker represented Gujarat in the Upper House from May 1985 to August 1987 and from August 1987 to August 1993.