Derek O'Brien Welcomes VP C.P. Radhakrishnan To Rajya Sabha: 'Keep Federalism Healthy'

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien welcomed newly elected Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan on his first day presiding over the House. O'Brien extended greetings to Radhakrishnan's family, including his wife Sumathi and children. Drawing on his wife's medical profession, O'Brien used the analogy of '120 by 80' blood pressure to discuss the health of parliamentary democracy. He urged the Chairman to be the 'custodian of the states' and highlighted the decline in session duration from 52 days in 1952 to just 15 days in the current session.