Congress too says no Padmas for ‘tainted’

The Congress on Tuesday said awards like the Padma Bhushan should be given to people who add to its prestige, and not to those with a taint, even as the latest recipient, US-based hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, remained unfazed in the face of the controversy over his award.

“We are not talking of any specific case. But these awards should be given to people who enhance its prestige and not to those with a taint,” the Congress spokesperson, Mr Shakeel Ahmed said Tuesday.

The controversy erupted after the BJP deputy leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Mr Gopinath Munde, wrote to the President, Ms Pratibha Patil and the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Monday asking that the Padma Bhushan to Mr Chatwal be taken back due to his past.

Clarifying the government position, a top official in the Union home ministry said that Mr Chatwal was a free man as all charges against him had been dropped. “There is no rethink on the issue,” said the official.

For his part, Mr Chatwal downplayed the controversy and said he was grateful to the government for recognizing his contribution to strengthening Indo-US ties. Mr Chatwal, considered close to the Clintons, said, “I have really no idea about the BJP’s objection. I love my country. I don’t care for the political parties. They will come and go.”