On the eve of Republic Day, the government has announced the Padma awards. This time four personalities have been given the Padma Vibhushan, 17 have been given the Padma Bhushan and 107 people have been given the Padma Shri. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is one of the recipients of Padma Bhushan, who has refused to accept the award.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee says that he was not even told about this. He was given this award in the field of public affairs. He was the Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011.
CPIM general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted and informed that Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee says, ‘I don’t know anything about the Padma Bhushan award. No one has told me anything about this. If I have been given Padma Bhushan, I refuse to accept it.’
Congress leader and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s decision, ‘He did the right thing. He doesn’t want to be a slave, but a free one.
With the announcement of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee not accepting the award, political rhetoric has started intensifying. People are reacting fiercely to his decision on social media.