From Bengal, Snub To Government Over Padma Awards, 3 Refuse Honour

Former Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was the first to decline yesterday. Since then, two eminent artistes from the state, tabla maestro Pandit Anindya Chatterjee and eminent vocalist Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, have said they too, have turned down the awards

All three people from Bengal on the BJP-led government's honour list have refused the Padma awards -- a situation deeply embarrassing in a state where the BJP suffered a stunning electoral defeat last year. Former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee -- an arch critic of the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- was the first to decline yesterday. Since then, two eminent artistes from the state, tabla maestro Pandit Anindya Chatterjee and eminent vocalist Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, have said they too, have turned down the awards, which, meanwhile, have sharpened the rift within the opposition Congress.

Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, the 90-year-old who has a singing career spanning eight decades, refused a Padma Shri -- the fourth highest civilian honour -- saying it suits a junior artiste and not someone of her stature.

Ms Mukherjee's daughter Soumi Sengupta said when the call on the award came from Delhi, her mother told the senior official that she felt "insulted" at her being offered the award at her age.

"Padma Shri is more deserving for a junior artiste, not 'Gitasree' Sandhya Mukhopadhyay. Her family and all the lovers of her songs feel," Ms Sengupta said.