Sumedhanand Saraswati
{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Swami
| name = Sumedhanand Saraswati
| image = The Member of Parliament, Shri Sumedhanand Saraswati addressing at the inauguration of the Regional Media Conference ‘Vartalaap’, organised by the PIB, Jaipur, at Sikar, Rajasthan.jpg
| caption = Saraswati addressing at the inauguration of the Regional Media Conference at Sikar, Rajasthan (2016)
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|10|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = Rohtak, Punjab, India (present day Haryana)
| residence = Piprali, Sikar, Rajasthan
| death_date =
| death_place =
| office = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
| term_start = 1 September 2014
| term_end = 4 June 2024
| constituency = Sikar
| predecessor = Mahadeo Singh Khandela
| successor = Amra Ram
| term =
| profession = Social Service
| party = Bharatiya Janata Party
| spouse =
| parents = Maya Ram Arya (father)
Bharti Devi (mother)
| children =
|source = https://sansad.in/ls/members/biographyM/4709?from=members
| alma_mater = Chaudhary Charan Singh University (M.A.)
| module = {{Infobox religious biography| embed = yes
| background = lavender
| religion = Hinduism
| initiation_date = c.1974
| school = Arya Samaj
}}
}}
Swami Sumedhanand Saraswati (born 1 October 1951) is an Indian politician. He served as Member of Lok Sabha for Sikar from 2014 to 2024. He belongs to Bharatiya Janata Party and is a member of Arya Samaj.
Early life
Saraswati was born on 1 October 1951 in a Jat family to Maya Ram Arya and Bharti Devi at Rohtak, Punjab (presently Haryana).{{cite web |title=Shri Sumedhanand Saraswati |url=http://164.100.47.194/Loksabha/Members/MemberBioprofile.aspx?mpsno=4709 |publisher=Lok Sabha |accessdate=8 March 2019}}{{cite web |title=सुमेधानंद ने दिया जाट होने का प्रमाण | trans-title = Sumedhanand gives proof of being a Jat |url=http://rajasthanpatrika.patrika.com/news/jat-turned-up-evidence-of-sumedhanand/1136421.html |work=Rajasthan Patrika |accessdate=8 March 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321075825/http://rajasthanpatrika.patrika.com/news/jat-turned-up-evidence-of-sumedhanand/1136421.html |archivedate=21 March 2014 |language=hi |date=21 March 2014}} He received a postgraduation degree from Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Sanskrit.
Spiritual career
Saraswati left home in c. 1974 and joined Arya Samaj.{{cite web |title=जनता के चंद असली नुमाइंदे | trans-title = The real leaders of citizens |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/photomazza/national-photogallery/a-few-real-public-representative/swami-sumedhanand/photoshow/35596890.cms |work=Navbharat Times |accessdate=8 March 2019 |language=hi}} Saraswati is a sadhu (Hindu monk) and has also founded one vedic ashram.{{cite web |title=Just a mild touch of saffron |url=http://www.millenniumpost.in/just-a-mild-touch-of-saffron-205629 |work=Millennium Post |accessdate=8 March 2019 |date=2 July 2014}}{{cite web |title=लोकसभा चुनाव 2014: साधु और संत भी ठोक रहे हैं ताल | trans-title = Lok Sabha Elections 2014: Sadhus and saints are also playing the beat|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/news/ELEC-saint-is-also-in-the-race-of-loksabha-election-2014-4558030-PHO.html?sld_seq=3 |work=Dainik Bhaskar |accessdate=9 March 2019 |language=hi |date=23 May 2014}} He is a former working president of Saarva Deshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, a Delhi based organization affiliated with Arya Samaj. Before entering politics, he has organised campaigns for cow protection and education of cultural tradition and Vedas.{{cite web |last1=Deshmane |first1=Akshay |title=Lok Sabha election 2014: Spiritual leaders are on BJP campaign trail, soliciting votes and dispensing blessings |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/lok-sabha-election-2014-spiritual-leaders-are-on-bjp-campaign-trail-soliciting-votes-and-dispensing-blessings/articleshow/33035804.cms |work=The Economic Times |accessdate=8 March 2019 |date=1 April 2014}}
Political career
Ahead of the 2014 Indian general election, the Bharatiya Janata Party announced that on the demand of Baba Ramdev, Saraswati would contest from Sikar constituency.{{cite web |title=It may get intense in four Rajasthan seats |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2014/india/it-may-get-intense-in-four-rajasthan-seats.html |work=The Daily Pioneer |accessdate=8 March 2019 |date=15 April 2014}} However, local party leaders protested as they considered him to be an outsider as he hailed from Haryana. His convoy was also attacked.{{cite web |title=Going strong, but BJP may not reach 'Mission-25' in Rajasthan |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/loksabha2014/going-strong-but-bjp-may-not-reach-mission25-in-rajasthan/article5916867.ece |work=The Hindu |accessdate=8 March 2019 |date=16 April 2014}} In the election, he was pitted against Subhash Maharia, an independent candidate and rebel of his party.{{cite web |title=Overwhelming support puts BJP in driver's seat in Rajasthan |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/ls-election-overwhelming-support-puts-bjp-in-drivers-seat-in-rajasthan/20140416.htm |work=Rediff.com |accessdate=8 March 2019 |date=16 April 2014}} On 16 May 2014, he was elected to the Lok Sabha after defeating his nearest rival Pratap Singh Jat of Indian National Congress party by a margin of approximately 239,000 votes.{{cite web |title=सीकर: बीजेपी के सुमेधानंद सरसवती ने लहराया जीत का परचम | trans-title = Sikar: BJP's Sumedhanand Saraswati unfurls the flag of victory|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/rajasthan/sikar/news/RAJ-SIK-sumedhanand-saraswati-won-sikar-seat-rajasthan-4616138-NOR.html |work=Dainik Bhaskar |accessdate=8 March 2019 |language=hi |date=16 May 2014}}{{cite web |title=भाजपा सांसद सुमेधानंद सरस्वती sikar की इस सीट से लड़ सकते हैं विधानसभा चुनाव |url=https://www.patrika.com/sikar-news/sikar-mp-sumedhanand-saraswati-may-bjp-candidate-in-election-2018-3615597/ |work=Rajasthan Patrika |accessdate=8 March 2019 |language=hi |date=24 October 2018}}
In his election affidavit, Saraswati declared assets worth {{INR convert|34.311|k}}, the least amongst other parliamentarians.{{cite web |last1=Rao |first1=Raghvendra |title=442 crorepatis, richest worth Rs 683 crore |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/442-crorepatis-richest-worth-rs-683-cr/ |work=The Indian Express |accessdate=8 March 2019 |date=19 May 2014}}{{cite web |title=Lok Sabha elections 2014: 10 interesting facts |url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/lok-sabha-elections-2014-10-interesting-facts/15309196 |publisher=Mid Day |accessdate=8 March 2019 |date=10 July 2014}}
During his tenure as an MP, Saraswati spent {{INR}} 240 million ({{USD}} 3,428,522) from his Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme fund for his constituency. He also raised an issue about onion cultivation in Lok Sabha.{{cite web |title=नेताजी रो रिपोर्ट कार्ड...MP स्वामी सुमेधानंद सरस्वती, सीकर सीट | trans-title = Report card of leaders ... MP Swami Sumedhanand Saraswati, Sikar seat |url=http://hindi.eenaduindia.com/States/West/Rajasthan/OthersInRajasthan/2019/03/05195356/report-card-of-sikar-MP-swami-sumedhanand-saraswati.vpf |work=Eenadu |accessdate=8 March 2019 |language=hi |date=5 March 2019}}
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{16th LS members from Rajasthan |state=expanded}}
{{17th LS members from Rajasthan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saraswati, Sumedhanand}}
Category:People from Rohtak district
Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Rajasthan