New Delhi, Feb 9 (TIWN) Memories of the 2007 terror attack in Kashmir on tourists from Gujarat made both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad emotional in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, as the House bid farewell to Leader of Opposition Azad who is among four members retiring from the Upper House this month.

 PM Modi paid tribute to Ghulam Nabi Azad in Parliament.   New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi choked up and struggled to speak in parliament today during a farewell to a rival politician, Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad. PM Modi heaped praise on the Congress veteran who sat across him in the Rajya Sabha, and teared up as he shared an episode when they were both Chief Ministers - of Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir.  "I have known Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad for years. We were Chief Ministers together. We had interacted even before I became Chief Minister, when Azad Sahab was very much in active politics. He has a passion not many know about - gardening," PM Modi said. 

He referred to a 2007 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on visitors from Gujarat. Mr Azad  was the first to call him to inform him about the incident. The Prime Minister said Mr Azad's tears would not stop.  "I will never forget Shri Azad's efforts and Pranab Mukherjee's efforts when people from Gujarat were stuck in Kashmir due to a terror attack. That night...Ghulam Nabi Ji called me...," he recalled, fighting tears, and paused for water.  "He sounded concerned like people are concerned about their own family members. That is the kind of feeling he showed." As the Prime Minister stopped to gather himself, there was loud desk-thumping.  "Power comes and goes. But how to handle it...," PM Modi broke off again and saluted him, letting that gesture speak more than words.