Chandigarh University founder-chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu nominated to Rajya Sabha

Satnam Singh Sandhu. Pic/www.cuchd.in

Chandigarh University founder-chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu was on Tuesday nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

In a notification, the home ministry said President Droupadi Murmu has nominated Sandhu to the upper house of Parliament.

Sandhu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving him the opportunity to voice the aspirations of the people and said he will work towards strengthening efforts to build a 'viksit Bharat' by 2047.

The son of a farmer, Sandhu struggled to attain education but eventually became one of India's leading educationists, the notification said.

Sandhu, who is also an agriculturist, is credited with the foundation of the Chandigarh Group of Colleges at Landran in Mohali in 2001 and the formation of the Chandigarh University in 2012, it said.

He is actively involved in large-scale community efforts to improve health and wellness and also to advance communal harmony through his two NGOs -- the Indian Minorities Foundation and the New India Development Foundation, it added.

In a social media post, Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar welcomed Sandhu's nomination to the Rajya Sabha.

"His rich work in community service and his passion towards education, innovation and learning will be big sources of strength for the Rajya Sabha. I wish him the very best for his tenure," Dhankhar said.

Thanking the vice president, Sandhu said he aspires to dedicate his services to the nation and be a voice for the people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was delighted that the president has nominated Sandhu to the Rajya Sabha.

"Satnam Ji has distinguished himself as a noted educationist and social worker, who has been serving people at the grassroots in different ways. He has always worked extensively to further national integration and has also worked with the Indian diaspora," the PM said on X.

The prime minister wished Sandhu the "very best" for his parliamentary journey and said he is confident the Rajya Sabha proceedings will be enriched by his views.

BJP president J P Nadda said Sandhu's rich experience and contributions to community service and furthering the scope of education are a source of inspiration for many.

"I am sure that you will contribute significantly to enriching the proceedings of Rajya Sabha. My best wishes to you for the Parliamentary journey," Nadda wrote on X.

Union minister and Leader of the House, Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal said the upper house of Parliament has always been enriched by thinkers and those who have worked for social upliftment.

He said Sandhu has a long history of working towards creating a better society and igniting the flame of knowledge among people.

"In the last decade, PM Modi has also ensured distinguished voices are nominated to the Rajya Sabha, who have excelled in their own fields and at the same time have a passion to work towards the good of the nation," Goyal said.

Twelve members can be nominated to the Rajya Sabha and following Sandhu's nomination on Tuesday, there is one vacancy in the nominated members' category.

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