Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed his dissatisfaction over the Centre’s list of Padma awardees alleging it did not take into consideration the names recommended by the state government, reported PTI.
The CM also said that he is contemplating writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue, as per the report quoting sources.
Attending a meeting on Saturday with ministers and officials, Reddy said that this “discrimination” is an insult to the people of Telangana.
He is mulling writing a letter to PM Modi on the “injustice done to Telangana” in Padma Awards, as per the report.
The state government had recommended the names of folk singer and balladeer Gaddar (Padma Vibhushan), educationist Chukka Ramaiah (Padma Bhushan), poet Ande Sri (Padma Bhushan), poet and singer Gorati Venkanna (Padma Shri), and poet and historian Jayadheer Tirumala Rao (Padma Shri).
But the Centre not taking the recommendation into consideration is an “insult” to the 4 crore people of Telangana, the chief minister said.
The CM expressed “serious dissatisfaction” over the Centre not announcing even five awards to Telangana, even though it selected 139 people for the honour, according to the report.
In an official release, the CM congratulated the Padma awardees from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh including actor Balakrishna, medical doctor Nageshwar Reddy and Manda Krishna Madiga.
Reddy said their selection for the awards is the result of their hard work and dedication.
A total of 139 people have been conferred with the civilian awards including seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri Awards.
Former Suzuki Motors chief Osamu Suzuki, former Maharashtra CM Manohar Joshi, BJP leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi, a former Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar, MT Vasudevan Nair, a legendary figure in Malayalam literature, and late singer Sharda Sinha. Pankaj Udhas, ghazal and playback singer, Playback singer Arijit Singh, cricketer R Ashwin, and former India hockey player PR Sreejesh are some of the recipients of the awards.
