Telangana Padma awards row: Centre overlooks recommendations from Congress government

Hyderabad: Row over Padma awards erupted in Telangana as the Centre overlooked recommendations from the Congress government. While Andhra Pradesh received five Padma awards Telangana got only two. None of the two were recommended. by the state government.

From Telangana, the Centre had conferred Padma Vibhushan to noted gastroenterologist Dr D Nageshwar Reddy and Padma Shri to dalit leader, Manda Krishna Madiga.

The Congress government in Telangana recommended the names of poet and communist revolutionary, Balladeer Gaddar (Posthumously) for Padma Vibhushan, eminent educationist, Chukka Ramaiah and poet Andhesri who penned Telangana's state song for Padma Bhushan, poet, Goreti Venkanna and historian Jayadheer Tirumala for Padma Shri.

Telangana chief minister, A Revath Reddy had expressed his displeasure on overlooking his government's recommendations, whereas union minister, Bandi Sanjay said various factors are taken into consideration while conferring the award and also questioned why Gaddar, who had Naxal ideology and supported killings of may police officers and BJP leaders, be given a Padma award.

Gummadi Vittal, popularly known as Balladeer Gaddar, was active in the Maoist insurgency. He passed away on August 6, 2023. The Congress government in Telangana reinstituted the Telugu film and theatre awards in his name.

“Telangana meted out injustice in the Padma awards. The Centre did not recognise noted people. The state government is expressing its disappointment on injustice meted to Telangana in Padma awards. My government will write a letter to the Prime Minister on this issue soon,” said Revanth Reddy.

Bandi Sanjay said that Centre does consider the names recommended by the state governments but selects people considering different factors.

“How can Balladeer Gaddar be considered for the Padma award. What is his ideology? He will definitely not be given the award. He was involved in the killing of many BJP leaders. He had penned songs on killings of BJP leaders and sang them. Gaddar was also responsible for deaths of police personnel in encounters. NIA had also conducted an inquiry on Gaddar, who followed Maoists ideology,” said Sanjay on Monday.

'Centre hatched conspiracy to remove state govt's authority on varsities'

Revanth Reddy on Sunday said that the union government hatched a conspiracy to change the UGC rules and remove the state governments' authority on universities. The universities will become platforms for venomous propaganda unleashed by some forces if the Centre takes control of the universities, he said.

Revanth Reddy who unveiled Dr BR Ambedkar statue at Dr BR Ambedkar Open University on Sunday said changing the UGC rules is a blatant attack on the Indian Constitution. This is a cultural attack on the states. Such actions by the union government are highly condemnable and it leads to unwanted controversies, he added.

“Encroaching on the states powers by the Centre is an attack on the state governments. We are not ready to give up our rights. We demand the Centre to withdraw the decision to change the UGC regulations. We will not hesitate to stage protests if the centre did not withdraw its decisions. The states will have to remain as mere Tax Collectors if the Centre grabs state government powers one by one,” Revanth Reddy said.

“The process for selecting Padma awardees is transparent and unbiased, involving a panel of experts who shortlist candidates based on merit and recommendations from state governments. Criticizing this process without understanding it reflects ignorance and is condemnable,” said State BJP spokesperson NV Subash.

He also referenced media reports alleging corruption in Padma award allocations during Congress rule, asserting, “That culture is a Congress legacy. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, awards have been granted solely on merit, free from political bias." He added that Congress's historical practice of naming public infrastructure after one family underscores a dynastic approach that no longer holds relevance.