Pranav Pandya refuses to accept nomination to Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, May 6: Pranav Pandya, head of All World Gayatri Pariwar, who was on Wednesday nominated to Rajya Sabha by the Modi government, today spurned the honour saying atmosphere in the Upper House was not conducive for him.

"I don't think the atmosphere in Rajya Sabha is conducive for me. It will never be," he told PTI over phone, giving reasons for his refusal to accept the nomination.

Pandya, an MD in Medicine, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha on May 4 by President Pranab Mukherjee following a recommendation of the government.

"I have watched the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha in last two days. The way they were abusing each other, I don't think I will be able to change them. Rather I will devote my time outside Rajya Sabha where I can impact on the life of millions of people for their betterment," he said.

65-year-old Pandya, the seventh person to be nominated by the Modi government, has informed the Secretary General of Rajya Sabha as well as the Home Ministry about his decision through e-mail, Pandya's close aide Suraj Prasad Shukla said.

However, when contacted, a senior Home Ministry official said they were yet to receive any communication from Pandya regarding his refusal to accept the honour.

The day he was nominated to Rajya Sabha, Pandya tweeted "Thanks to all who sent their congratulations for my nomination to rajyasabha. I will try to inculcate yugnirman sutras among our MPs".

Mumbai-born Pandya is Director and head of the All World Gayatri Pariwar (AWGP). AWGP is claimed to be a modern adoption of the age-old wisdom of Vedic Rishis who practiced and propagated the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam with its headquarters in Haridwar.

On April 22, the government had nominated Subramanian Swamy, Narendra Jadhav, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Suresh Gopi, Swapan Dasgupta and Mary Kom as the new Rajya Sabha members.

The President recommends the names of the nominated members – drawn from fields such as literature, science, sports, art and social service – on the advice of the government.

PTI