The Aam Admi Party on Saturday declared noted environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal and entrepreneur-philanthropist Vikramjit Singh Sahney as its candidates for the Rajya Sabha seats from the state. Both Seechewal and Sahney are Padmi Shri awardees.
The announcement was made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Twitter.
"I am happy to announce that AAP is nominating two Padma Shri awardees for the Rajya Sabha. One is environmentalist Padma Shri Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal and second is Padma Shri Vikramjit Singh Sahney. My best wishes to both of them," he said.
The announcement assumes significance as the party had received a lot of flak last time for choosing “outsiders” to send to Rajya Sabha.
The term of Rajya Sabha members from Punjab Ambika Soni (Congress) and Balwinder Singh Bhunder (Shiromani Akali Dal) is due to expire on July 4. The two AAP candidates are expected to be elected unopposed given the overwhelming majority of the AAP in Punjab Assembly.
'Eco Baba' of Punjab
Seechewal, popularly known as Baba Seechewal, is known for his efforts to clean the 160-km-long holy rivulet Kali Bein in Kapurthala's Sultanpur Lodhi. Sikhs believe that Guru Nanak Dev got enlightenment after taking a dip in the Kali Bein.
Seechewal has been hailed as one of the top 30 Heroes of the Environment in the world by Times Magazine. He has also received the SAARC Environmental Award. His work has been applauded by Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and late former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
A multifaceted personality
Vikramjit Singh Sahney is entrepreneur, educationist, philanthropist and social activist. He is the founder of Sun Group, a leading business conglomerate. He is the international president of the World Punjabi Organisation, which aims at fostering social, economic and cultural bondage and is functional in 22 countries. He was in the news last year for helping evacuate over 500 Hindus and Sikhs from Afghanistan.
With PTI inputs
