The list approved by President Droupadi Murmu included 30 women and eight persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI and nine posthumous awardees.
Political experts say since 2014 the Yadav community has been showing a tilt towards the BJP in Lok Sabha elections, while it continues to vote for the SP in assembly polls.
Indira Gandhi's principal secretary, PN Haksar was the first person to refuse the Padma Vibhushan award. He said he was simply doing his job and accepting the award would be discomforting.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharya declined Padma Bhushan and Ghulam Nabi Azad drew jibes from Congress leaders for accepting the award from Modi govt. But such controversies are not new.
From nominating deserving people to getting a chance to attend the awards ceremony, the Modi govt has changed the way Indians interact with the Padma Awards.
Of the 119 Padma awardees for 2021, as many as 34 are from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bengal, Assam & Puducherry — all headed for polls in April-May this year.
Former CMs Tarun Gogoi and Keshubhai Patel, former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and ex-Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan will be awarded the Padma Bhushan.
Mary Kom is the first woman sportsperson to be awarded the Padma Vibhushan. The boxer said her immediate target was to first qualify for Tokyo Olympics.
Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.
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