'Should I speak in Hindi or Marathi?': Rajya Sabha nominee Ujjwal Nikam says PM Modi asked him this; recalls both 'laughed'

NEW DELHI: Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam on Sunday expressed gratitude after being nominated to the Rajya Sabha, revealing a moment from his conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Nikam said PM Modi personally called him to share the news and asked, “Should I speak in Hindi or Marathi?” before switching to Marathi for the rest of the conversation, reports news agency ANI.


“I thank President Droupadi Murmu for nominating me. When I met PM Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha election campaign, he expressed his faith in me. Yesterday, PM Modi called to inform me about the nomination. He asked whether he should speak in Hindi or Marathi--both of us laughed. Then he spoke to me in Marathi and told me that the President wanted to assign me a responsibility, and he informed me of her decision,” Nikam was quoted as saying to ANI.

Nikam said he accepted the offer without hesitation. “I immediately said yes. I thank the party leadership and also Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis,” he added.

Nikam is known for his role in prosecuting high-profile criminal cases, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack involving Ajmal Kasab, and the 1993 Bombay blasts.

Nikam is one of four individuals nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Murmu, in recognition of their service in various fields. The others include former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Kerala-based social worker and educationist C Sadanandan Master, and historian Meenakshi Jain.

The nominations were made under Article 80(1)(a), read with clause (3) of the Indian Constitution. The ministry of home affairs announced the appointments through an official notification, filling vacancies created by the retirement of previously nominated members.