‘Will you talk in Hindi or Marathi…’, when PM Modi called Ujjwal Nikam and told him about sending him to Rajya Sabha

Narendra Modi called and congratulated Ujjwal Nikam Photo-ANI

PM Modi has also spoken to Nikam over phone after he was nominated for Rajya Sabha. Giving information about this, the senior lawyer said, ‘When I met PM Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha election campaign, he expressed his confidence in me. Yesterday PM Narendra Modi called me to inform me about my nomination.

President Draupadi Murmu has nominated former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, government lawyer in the Mumbai attack case Ujjwal Nikam, educationist C Sadanandan Master and Delhi historian Meenakshi Jain for the Rajya Sabha. The Union Home Ministry said in a notification issued late Saturday July 12 , 2025 night that the President has nominated all four for the Rajya Sabha.

PM Modi congratulated

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated all the four members nominated to the Rajya Sabha. Describing Ujjwal Nikam’s dedication to the legal field and the Constitution as exemplary, he posted on x and said that he has not only been a successful lawyer but has also been at the forefront in getting justice in important cases.

PM Modi said on social media handle X , ‘Throughout his legal career, he has always worked to strengthen constitutional values and ensure that common citizens are always treated with respect. It is a pleasure that the President of India has nominated him to the Rajya Sabha. My best wishes for his parliamentary tenure.’

Conversation with Nikam in Marathi

Nikam further said, ‘PM Modi asked me whether he should talk in Hindi or Marathi, on this both of us started laughing. Then PM Modi talked to me in Marathi and told me that the President wants to give me responsibility, after which he told me about the President’s decision. I immediately said yes, I thank the party leadership.’

Ujjwal Nikam is a famous lawyer and had worked as a public prosecutor in the Mumbai terror attacks case. The BJP had fielded him as the party candidate from the Mumbai North Central seat for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. But Congress candidate Varsha Gaikwad defeated him in the election.

Who is Ujjwal Nikam?

Born in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, Ujjwal Nikam is a well-known lawyer of the country and has made a special identity for himself by fighting high profile cases. Nikam played the most important role as a public prosecutor in getting the terrorist Ajmal Kasab, caught in the 26/11 Mumbai attack, hanged. Apart from this, he has also been a public prosecutor in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

Nikam, who has worked as a public prosecutor in Bollywood’s famous music producer Gulshan Kumar murder case and Pramod Mahajan murder case, is counted among the most reputed lawyers of the country. For his contribution in the legal field, Ujjwal Nikam was honored with the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri by the Government of India in the year 2016.