President Ram Nath Kovind nominates 4 to Rajya Sabha
New Delhi, July 14 : President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday nominated four eminent people, including noted classical dancer Sonal Mansingh and sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra, to the Rajya Sabha.
The nominations which came four days ahead of the commencement of the monsoon session of Parliament also include three-time MP Ram Shakal and author Rakesh Sinha, an official release said.
Mansingh is among India's foremost exponents of the Bharatnatyam and Odissi dance forms. She is also a well-known choreographer, teacher, orator and social activist.
Mohapatra is an internationally renowned authority on stone carving. He has contributed to the preservation of traditional sculpture and ancient monuments, and has worked on the beautification of the Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri.
His famous works include a six feet high statue of the Sun God carved in grey sandstone in the Central Hall of Parliament; and the Wooden Buddha, Buddha Temple, Paris.
Shakal, a three-time MP and farmer leader from Uttar Pradesh, is widely respected for championing the cause of labourers, migrants and the Dalit community.
While Sinha is a widely read author and the Founder and Director of the Delhi-based think-tank India Policy Foundation. He is also currently a member of the Indian Council of Social Science Research.
The opposition is expected to press for early elections to the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman during the monsoon session as the post fell vacant after retirement of P.J. Kurien on July 1.
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One nation, one election 'dangerous': Kamal Haasan
Chennai (PTI): One nation, one election proposal is 'dangerous', flawed and its scars still exist in some countries and hence it is not needed for India and it will not be required in future too, top actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder leader Kamal Haasan said here on Saturday.
Without naming any party or leader, Haasan said had simultaneous polls been held in 2014 or 2015, it would have led to a complete sweep, resulting in dictatorship, loss of freedom of speech and dominance of a single leader.
"You should understand that we have escaped from it...we have escaped from a disease more virulent than Coronavirus," he said addressing a party meet, apparently indicating that polls about a decade ago had been conducted without embracing the one nation, one election concept.
Though Haasan pointed to Europe and Russia when he commented on simultaneous polls, he did not specify any single country where it had failed.
What would happen if all traffic lights glow in the same colour at the same time, he asked and said people should be given time to think and pick their choice.
