New Delhi: The Government of India has announced to confer Padma awards on 128 people on the eve of Republic Day. However, three people, including CPM leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, have rejected it. Former West Bengal CM and senior CPI(M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has said that he does not know whether he has been nominated for the Padma Bhushan or not, but if that happens, he will not accept the honour.
In a statement published in Bangla on the CPIM's social media page, Bhattacharya said, "I have no information about the Padma Bhushan award. No one told me anything about it. If they have given me the Padma Bhushan, I reject it." At the same time, the Indian government says Bhattacharya's wife was informed in this regard and she had accepted it.
According to media reports, home ministry officials have said that the Union home secretary had spoken to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's wife on Tuesday morning and she had agreed to accept the honour. Apart from Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, two more people have refused to accept the Padma award. Tablastologist Pandit Anindo Chatterjee has said that he was offered the Padma Shri, which he declined. Apart from him, famous singer Sandhya Mukhopadhyay has also rejected the Padma Shri.
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