Ghulam Nabi Azad’s name in Padma lists evoked mixed reactions from party colleagues
Soon after former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya refused to accept the Padma Bhushan, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a jibe at party colleague Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has also been awarded the Padma Bhushan.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s name in the Padma lists announced on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day evoked mixed reactions from party colleagues this evening. While Shashi Tharoor gave the news an unambiguous welcome, a jibe came from Jairam Ramesh.
Shashi Tharoor tweeted, “Warm congratulations to Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad on his Padma Bhushan. It is good to be recognized for one’s public service even by a government of the other side.”
Warm congratulations to Shri @ghulamnazad on his Padma Bhushan. It is good to be recognized for one’s public service even by a government of the other side. https://t.co/OIT0iVNPjo
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 25, 2022
Ramesh tweeted on Bhattacharya’s refusal to accept the award, saying: “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
The jibe was aimed at his party colleague Ghulam Nabi Azad who is also a former Union minister and held a Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha position. Azad was one of the first in Congress to stoke the leadership issue in the party.
Bhattacharya was to be honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India for his contribution in the field of Public Affairs. On Tuesday, he refused to accept the Padma Bhushan award conferred upon him by the Government of India.
Bhattacharya said, “I don’t know anything about the Padma Bhushan award, nobody told me about it. If I were awarded the Padma Bhushan, I would reject it.”
Minutes later, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri confirmed the statement.
Bhattacharya is ailing from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Even during last year’s Assembly polls in Bengal, the veteran leader did not campaign for his party.
[With Inputs from IANS]
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Someone enslaved to the head of the colonial party is a fine one to comment!!!LOL
It was a nice ploy to take a dig at Khangress for many years & decades & later to be mentioned in history books for a safe burial (final is printing in text books)