New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari Tuesday led the house in bidding farewell to 13 members whose term is ending April 2.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley and Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan also recalled contribution of the outgoing members in their speeches.

Ansari said the house will miss the members who were not returning.

Expressing his heart-felt appreciation for their contribution, he wished them long life and good health.

The prime minister also appreciated the contribution of retiring members and recalled that he has been a member of the house for nearly 19 years.

'My experience is that this house has some unique characteristics which enrich public life and reflect plurality and diversity of the country.'

Jaitley said new members enter the house with a certain awe and 'all go back wiser, considering the environment of the house'.

He said the members had excellent inter-personal relations. 'Even if we disagree, we learn a lot from each other,' he said.

Rahman said the dynamic exposure in the house will come handy to retiring members in discharging their public role.

Members who will retire April 2 include two from Assam, one each from Himachal Pradesh, Tripura and Nagaland, three from Kerala and five from Punjab.