Hyderabad: Union minister of state for home Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s firm stance against awarding a Padma honour to the balladeer, the late Gaddar, aligns closely with the BJP government’s zero-tolerance policy towards left wing extremism (LWE). Political parties such as Congress, CPI and student bodies continued to criticise the BJP leader by reminding that Padma awards were not given by the BJP.Sanjay categorically stated that there was “no question of giving Padma award to Gaddar,” citing the late balladeer’s ideology and alleged involvement in the deaths of BJP activists and police personnel at the hands of Naxalites, who are now known as Maoists. The LWE is “breathing its last”, claimed BJP spokesperson Rani Rudrama charging that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was trying to create a rift among the Madiga and Mala communities by raising the issue of the Centre not honouring Gaddar, and the poets Ande Sri and Goreti Venkanna. “Why is the government not tolerating the award to Manda Krishna Madiga,” she questioned. BJP SC Morcha leader Koppu Basha said Gaddar never believed in democracy and was responsible for the death of hundreds of youths. “Gaddar never believed the Constitution, written by Dr B.R. Ambedkar,” he said. However, CPI state secretary Takkallapally Srinivas said the Centre should not look through the political prism while giving national awards. Gaddar deserves the Padma award for his cultural contribution, particularly in folk arts, he averred. S. Nageshwar Rao, Progressive Democratic Students’ Union (PDSU) leader from Osmania University, said the Padma awards were the national honours conferred by the Centre and not by the BJP. “Gaddar worked throughout his life to raise social consciousness. He never worked underground. The state government recognised his work, particularly in arts, and rechristened the film awards after his name. They may have political differences. But, the Centre must have conferred the Padma award on Gaddar,” he said. It may be noted that Revanth Reddy had expressed dissatisfaction with the Central government’s decision and vowed to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the unfair treatment in Padma award allocations. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud questioned the BJP’s ideological consistency, pointing out instances where Bandi Sanjay had previously embraced Gaddar. The issue has stirred up a “hornet’s nest,” reignited debates about the criteria for Padma awards, the recognition of controversial figures and the ideological divide between left and right-wing groups in India.
Source link
