Indian government on Monday announced the list if new Padma Awardees for 2016.
Prominent among the list are Founder of Reliance Industries late, Dhirubhai Ambani, actor Rajinikanth, media baron and founder of ETV network Ramoji Rao, Time of India group’s Indu Jain, Anupam Kher and a small time regional singer Malini Awasthi.
Awasthi with Kher was very active while organising the counter protest against the intellectuals who returned their awards over growing religious intolerance in India.
Among others actors Ajay Devgn, Priyanka Chopra and Mumbai-based lawyer Ujjwal Nikam too have been honoured.
Padma Bhushan
- Bollywood actor Anupam Kher
- Saina Nehwal
- Sania Mirza
- Udit Narayan
- Ram Sutar
- Former CAG Vinod Rai
- Heisnam Kanhailal
- Barjinder Singh Hamdard
- Swami Tejomayananda
- Prof N S Ramanuja Tatacharya
- Prof D Nageshwar Reddy
- Former US Ambassador to India Robert D Blackwill
- Bennett, Coleman & Co’s Indu Jain.
Padma Vibhushan
- Superstar Rajinikanth
- Yamini Krishnamurthi
- Girija Devi
- Ramoji Rao (media baron)
- Shri Shri Ravi Shankar
- Dr Viswanathan Shanta
- Reliance Industries founder late Dhirubhai Ambani
Padma Shri
- Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam
- Ajay Devgn
- Priyanka Chopra
- Malini Awasthi
The awards have reignited new debate on twitter on whether such honours are given on merit. Most users have accused the government of rewarding its loyalists.
Here are some conversations.
3 ppl in this march got Padma awards. Madhur, Malini & Anupam Kher. March was for tolerance or Padma awards 🙂 pic.twitter.com/tPvXQyLXOV
— Sir Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhaqat) January 25, 2016
So some mysterious degree of Bhakti levels operate in the #padmaawards why leave out @chetan_bhagat, Pandit?
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) January 25, 2016
The Padma Awards have turned into Lotus awards
— SANJAY HEGDE (@sanjayuvacha) January 25, 2016
Padma Awards have lost its credibility. Padma Awards for Bhakts. Shame. #PadmaAward4Bhakts
— Saji Chekkattu (@saji1963) January 25, 2016
Congress Mantra Followed by Modi Govt.
Lick and get Awarded ..
Those looking for Padma Awards .. start licking the Govt in Power !!— Aarti (@aartic02) January 25, 2016
Not surprised by Padma Awards' list. Modi Sarkar just copying UPA. Paying back to celebrity supporters!
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) January 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/OneFunnyChap/status/691590646692474880
Choosing the people who will never return padma award and reducing #awardwapsi
What an idea modiji. LOL#Padmaawardforbhakts #PadmaAwards— shameem (@shameembshr) January 25, 2016