Panna Lal Punia, usually known as P. L. Punia, is an Indian politician and Member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh from 2014 till 2020. He was member of the Lok Sabha from 2009 to 2014 and represented Barabanki (Lok Sabha constituency).[1] He is a Dalit leader of the Indian National Congress party.[2] He was also chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes between 2013 and 2016[3] and as such sat ex officio on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).[4][5]

P. L. Punia
P. L. Punia holding a Press Conference, in New Delhi on September 06, 2012
MP of Rajya Sabha for Uttar Pradesh
In office
26 November 2014 – 25 November 2020
Succeeded byGeeta Shakya
ConstituencyUttar Pradesh
Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes
In office
30 October 2010 – 30 May 2017
Preceded byButa Singh
Succeeded byRam Shankar Katheria
MP of 15th Lok Sabha
In office
25 May 2009 – 26 May 2014
Preceded byKamla Prasad Rawat
Succeeded byPriyanka Singh Rawat
ConstituencyBarabanki (Uttar Pradesh)
Personal details
Born (1945-01-23) 23 January 1945 (age 79)
Salhawas, Punjab, British India
(now in Haryana, India)
Political partyIndian National Congress
SpouseIndira Punia
Children3 including Tanuj Punia
ResidenceNew Delhi
Alma materPanjab University (M.A.)
Lucknow University (Ph.D.)
Websitehttp://plpunia.blogspot.com/

In July 2012, Punia appeared in the popular TV show Satyamev Jayate, hosted by Bollywood star Aamir Khan, to raise awareness of discrimination against scheduled castes.

Early life, career and family

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He was born on 23 January 1945 to Bharat Singh and Dakhan Devi in the Jhajjar district of the Punjab region (now Haryana), British India. He took an M.A. from Panjab University, Chandigarh and a PhD from Lucknow University, Uttar Pradesh.[1][6] In 1970 he joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), becoming District magistrate in Aligarh during 1982–85.[7]

P. L. Punia is married to Indira Punia and they have 3 children. Their son Tanuj Punia is a graduate (B.Tech) from IIT Roorkee and has been involved in social work since 2007.[8] He contested in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh election as a Congress candidate in Zaidpur and came runners-up. He has become a spokesperson of the Indian National Congress since then.

References

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  1. ^ a b Detailed Profile – Shri P. L. Punia. India.gov.in (1974-01-16). Retrieved on 2013-01-08.
  2. ^ Statue Or Pedestal? Archived 14 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine. outlookindia.com (2012-08-20). Retrieved on 2013-01-08.
  3. ^ "Who's Who". National Commission for Scheduled Castes. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  4. ^ PL Punia appointed NCSC Chairman Archived 2 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine. iGovernment.in. Retrieved on 2013-01-08.
  5. ^ National Commissions – Associated Organisations: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India Archived 3 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Socialjustice.nic.in. Retrieved on 2013-01-08.
  6. ^ Stung by defeat, Mayawati to revert to Dalit agenda. Deccanherald.com. Retrieved on 2013-01-08.
  7. ^ Rina » Yellow Journalism Is A Shameful Point For The Community. Rina.in (2011-06-13). Retrieved on 2013-01-08.
  8. ^ "Tanuj Punia(Indian National Congress(INC)):Constituency- BARABANKI (SC)(UTTAR PRADESH) - Affidavit Information of Candidate".