West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Image Credit: TOI
The government announced the Padma awards on the eve of Republic Day. This year, four people received the Padma Vibhushan, 17 people received the Padma Bhushan, and 107 people received the Padma Shri. One of the recipients of the Padma Bhushan, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, has refused to accept the award.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee claims he was not even informed of the situation. This honor was bestowed upon him in the sphere of public affairs. From 2000 until 2011, he served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee states, 'I don't know anything about the Padma Bhushan award,' according to CPIM general secretary Sitaram Yechury. Nothing has been said to me about this. I refuse to accept the Padma Bhushan if it has been bestowed upon me.
'He did the right thing,' Congress leader and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh remarked of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's choice. He prefers to be a free man rather than a slave. With Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's revelation that he will not accept the honor, political rhetoric has begun to heat up. On social media, people are expressing their displeasure with his decision.