Mumbai: Advocate Ujjwal Nikam , special public prosecutor in the 1993 Mumbai Bomb Blasts and other large terror trials, was on Saturday nominated to the Rajya Sabha as one of the four Presidential nominees. Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke the news to him on Saturday night around 9pm, said Nikam.”I received a call from PM Modi. He began by saying in Marathi, “Mi Marathit Bolu ka Hindi?’ (should I speak in Marathi or Hindi?” I laughed a little but he laughed heartily,” Nikam smiled while speaking to TOI on Sunday. “I told the PM that he was proficient in both languages and could speak in either, his choice. He spoke to me in Marathi and told me he was conveying the President’s wishes to nominate me as Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament to serve the people. “Nikam recalled what the PM said. “President wants to assign a responsibility to you. Can you take on the responsibility? I said let me know what responsibility, to which he replied that the President has taken a decision to nominate you to the Rajya Sabha so you can use your power for the country and constitution. I readily said yes,” Nikam relayed.The PM on Sunday announced the nomination on social media. “Shri Ujjwal Nikam’s devotion to the legal field and to our Constitution is exemplary.He has not only been a successful lawyer but also been at the forefront of seeking justice in important cases. During his entire legal career, he has always worked to strengthen Constitutional values and ensure common citizens are always treated with dignity. It’s gladdening that the President of India has nominated him to the Rajya Sabha. My best wishes for his Parliamentary innings.”Nikam was awarded the Padma Shri in 2016 and was the BJP’s candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai North Central. He lost to Congress’s Varsha Gaikwad. “I never felt bad losing the election and was reappointed as a Special Public Prosecutor in several leading cases,” said Nikam, saying his dedication to public cause would now continue with the faith reposed in him by the President, PM, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. He told TOI,”I will work towards upholding the constitutional provisions and strive to bring legal reforms which are needed as even CJI BR Gavai mentioned recently. I will see what changes are needed in extradition laws, since the process relies on our evidence and probe but laws of the other nation in appreciation of the evidence. Besides, Cesar’s wife should be above suspicion, and I will work on proposing judicial reforms.”Fadnavis said, “…Ujjwal Nikam ji a stalwart in the field of law, has contributed as a exemplary public prosecutor in several high-profile cases…”While ensuring to preserve citizen’s faith in the judiciary, Nikam said, “When the various terror trials were on, we were able to get David Headley as witness and could expose Pakistan’s role….”