Padma Awards: CPM's Veteran Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Rejects Padma Bhushan

Padma Awards: CPM's veteran leader and former Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee have refused to take the Padma Bhushan award.

CPM's veteran leader and former Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (File photo: AFP)

Bengal: On the eve of Republic Day, former Bengal chief minister and Communist leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Tuesday refused to accept Padma Bhushan that was conferred on him by the Narendra Modi-led BJP government.

“I don't know anything about the Padma Bhushan award, nobody told me about it. If I have been awarded the Padma Bhushan, I would have rejected it,” Buddhadeb said in a statement.

#UPDATE | In a statement, former West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee says he will not accept the Padma Bhushan award https://t.co/YiEYyxTNGH

— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2022

Buddhadeb, who is a former member of the politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), served as chief minister of West Bengal from 2002 to 2011.

Among other striking political pioneers from across the spectrum to get the country's third-highest civilian award of Padma Bhushan is Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Jairan Ramesh heaped praises on the veteran leader and wrote, "Right thing to do. He wants to be Azad not Ghulam".

Right thing to do. He wants to be Azad not Ghulam. https://t.co/iMWF00S9Ib

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 25, 2022

A while ago, CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury also took on Twitter and wrote, "Former Party PB member & WB CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had this to say on the Padma Bhushan award announcement I don't know anything about Padma Bhushan award, none has said anything about it. If I have been given Padma Bhushan I refuse to accept it".

Former Party PB member & WB CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had this to say on the Padma Bhushan award announcement.
“I don't know anything about Padman Bhusan award,none has said anything about it. If I have been given Padma Bhushan I refuse to accept it.”

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) January 25, 2022

Almost 128 eminent personalities for the country's highest civilian awards were named by the Union ministry of home affairs announced hours ago.

The President of India has approved conferment of 128 Padma Awards this year.#PadmaAwards#RepublicDay2022

The list is as below - pic.twitter.com/4xf9UHOZ2H

— DD News (@DDNewslive) January 25, 2022

The Padma Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher-order), and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The honor tries to perceive accomplishments in all fields of activities or disciplines where a component of public service is involved.

Earlier in the day, President of India Ram Nath Kovind has approved the conferment of 128 Padma Awards this year. 

Additionally, Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra will be given the Padma Shri. Chopra is the only athlete to win a gold medal for India at the Olympics.

Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam will also be conferred with Padma Shri.

Krishna Ella and Suchitra Ella of Bharat Biotech and Cyrus Poonawalla of Serum Institute of India will also receive Padma Bhushan awards.

While Krishna Ella and Suchitra Ella have been the main faces behind development of the indigenous Covid vaccine Covaxin, Poonawalla role has been significant in giving India Covishield - another Covid vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

The Home Ministry has also conferred third-highest civilian award Padma Bhushan on Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Google CEO Sundar Pichai.