Rajya Sabha adjourned after obituary references

New Delhi : The Rajya Sabha was on Tuesday adjourned without transacting any business on the first day of the winter session after obituary remarks.

Chairman Hamid Ansari mentioned the passing away of Arjun Sengupta, a sitting member of the House, and adjourned the proceedings for the day as a mark of respect.

Ansari recalled Sengupta?s contribution to the unorganised sector and said his report on unorganised sector is now a reference point for framing policies for workers in this sector.

Sengupta had represented West Bengal from August 2005 till his death.

?In passing away of Sengupta, the country has lost an eminent economist, a noted diplomat and an able parliamentarian,? Ansari said.

Tributes were also paid to the member of former members Jamuna Devi and SS Chandran.

While Jamuna Devi was a member of the Upper House from April 1978 to April 1980, Chandran was in the House from July 2001 to July 2007.

Jamuna Devi, who passed away at the age of 80, was Deputy Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in 1998 and Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly from 2003 to 2008 and from 2009 till her demise on September 24.

Cine star Chandran, who had represented Tamil Nadu, died on October 9 at the age of 69.

The Rajya Sabha also mourned the loss of lives in Indonesia due to tsunami and volcanic eruption.

Members later observed silence as mark of respect to them.