PT Usha, Ilaiyaraaja Among 4 Nominated To Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Celebrated athlete PT Usha and film music composer and legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja are among prominent personalities who have been nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

Philanthropist and Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala temple Veerendra Heggade and Telugu director-screenwrite V Vijayendra Prasad are the others to have been honoured with a Rajya Sabha nomination.

All four are from the South, but hailing from different states.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate the Rajya Sabha nominees.

“The remarkable PT Usha Ji is an inspiration for every Indian. Her accomplishments in sports are widely known but equally commendable is her work to mentor budding athletes over the last several years. Congratulations to her on being nominated to the Rajya Sabha,” Modi wrote about India’s greatest female athlete.

Congratulating Ilaiyaraaja, who has mainly worked in Tamil cinema besides Telugu film industry, Modi posted: “The creative genius of Ilaiyaraaja has enthralled people across generations. His works beautifully reflect many emotions. What is equally inspiring is his life journey- he rose from a humble background and achieved so much. Glad that he has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha.”

On Vijayendra Prasad, the father of current hotshot director SS Rajamouli, Modi wrote: “His works showcase India’s glorious culture and have made a mark globally.”

Modi hailed Veerendra Heggade outstanding community service and was confident that he will ‘enrich Parliamentary proceedings’.

“Shri Veerendra Heggade Ji is at the forefront of outstanding community service. I have had the opportunity to pray at the Dharmasthala Temple and also witness the great work he is doing in health, education and culture,” PM Modi said.