(This story originally appeared in on Mar 16, 2016)

NEW DELHI: Poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar was on a song on Tuesday when he turned a staid, sedate farewell speech to colleagues in Rajya Sabha to a withering criticism of those who feel 'ashamed' of saying 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. With apparently Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi in his crosshairs, he asked the "mohalla leader from Hyderabad" if the argument against shouting the slogan is that the Constitution does not stipulate it, the same can be applied to the sherwani. "Does Constitution stipulate that one should wear sherwani?" he asked.Reciting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' a few times, Akhtar condemned Owaisi as well as ' Musalman Ke Do Sthaan: Kabristan ya Pakistan' - the other slogan he said is often raised frequently in few Indian cities.Akhtar asked should India become like countries where people are hanged in the name of religion or should we become a nation where a movie like the 'Last Temptation of Christ' can be made?Usually, farewell speeches are rather inoffensive. But Akhtar was in a mood to upend customs as the Upper House bid an emotional farewell to 17 members who retired. Almost stealing the show, the lyricist during his eloquent 15-minute speech argued how "democracy is not possible without secularism".Akhtar said protecting secularism is not about protecting one community or the other. "We need to protect secularism because there cannot be democracy without it. I believe this is our greatest achievement." On religious freedom, he said, "These days, they call fringe, it is growing day by day. This is not required."In his farewell speech, Congress MP Ashwani Kumar said that despite the "regrettably diminishing role of Parliament as a forum of debate, reflection and deliberation" there were exhilarating debates on the 1984 riots and on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal."The House, conceived as a bulwark against the impulses of transient majorities and custodian of the nation's moral conscience, is expected to vindicate its role in protecting humanity's rightful dignity and moral integrity. In these trying times, RS is expected to be the torch-bearer of liberty, dignity and freedom of all citizens," Kumar said.Earlier, chairperson Hamid Ansari led RS in appreciating the rich and significant contribution of the retiring members, saying their unique association will be cherished. Finance minister Arun Jaitley , also leader of the house, said membership of the House is an honour as the members are part of 'history in the making'. Leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad equated the clashes and sparring among members in the House to 'saas-bahu' (mother-in-law- daughter-in-law) fights.Among the retirees are Balchand Mungekar (nominated), Ashwani Kumar (Cong), M S Gill (Cong), M S Aiyar (Cong), Avinash Rai Khanna (BJP), Akhtar (nom), Jaishree (nom), K Balagopal and T N Seema (CPM).