New Delhi: Parliament on Monday paid rich tributes to the King of Saudi Arabia and noted cartoonist RK Laxman, while condolintg the death of over 80 killed in the recent sectarian violence in Assam on the first day of the Budget Session.
Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day soon after the obituary references were made to several others, including sitting member from Uttarakhand, Manorama D Sharma, who passed away on February 18.
Paying homage to King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari described him as a visionary leader and said "this House joins the ruling family, the leaders and people of Saudi Arabia in mourning" his demise.
He also paid glowing tributes to eminent cartoonist R K Laxman noting his contributions to raising the issues afflicting the common people through his cartoons.
Tributes were also paid to former Rajya Sabha members -- SKT Ramachandran, Kamla Sinha, Rameshwar Thakur, Anant Ram Jaiswal and Dr Sarojini Mahishi, who passed away during the inter-session period.
Condoling their demise, Ansari said "we deeply mourn their passing away" and asked members to stand in silence for some moments and then adjourned the House for the day.
In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan paid homage to 81 people who were killed allegedly by Bodo militants in Assam earlier this month.
The House also remembered its former members G Venkataswamy, Major Ranjeet Singh, Dr Sarojini Mahishi and Ramanaidu Daggubati, who passed away in the recent past.
