Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay on Monday criticized Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy over his displeasure with the Centre’s denial of Padma awards to personalities recommended by the state government. Speaking to the media, Sanjay emphasized that Padma awards are given only to those who deserve them.
“How can the Padma award be given to Gaddar? How can the award be given to someone who killed BJP workers and police personnel?” Bandi Sanjay questioned, referring to the state’s recommendation of Padma Vibhushan for revolutionary balladeer and former Maoist ideologue Gaddar, who passed away in 2023.
The Telangana government had also recommended awards for other notable personalities, including Chukka Ramaiah (Padma Bhushan), Andesri (Padma Bhushan), Gorati Venkanna (Padma Shri), and Jayadheer Tirumala Rao (Padma Shri). However, the state received only two awards—Padma Vibhushan for renowned gastroenterologist Dr. Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy and Padma Shri for MRPS founder Manda Krishna Madiga.
Revanth Reddy expressed his displeasure, terming it an insult to Telangana and vowing to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding a fair share of Padma awards for the state. He argued that Telangana deserved at least five awards.
Bandi Sanjay on Renaming Central Schemes
Bandi Sanjay also warned the Telangana government against renaming Central welfare schemes, asserting that the Centre could implement these programs without state government involvement if this practice continues.
“The state government has changed the names of PM Awas Yojana and Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana,” he alleged. “Let the state government spend its own funds and name the schemes after whoever they like—be it Indira Gandhi, Osama Bin Laden, or Dawood Ibrahim. But they cannot rename Central schemes funded by the Union government.”
He accused the Telangana government of taking funds from the Centre and implementing welfare programs under new names, such as renaming the PM Awas Yojana to “Indiramma Awas Yojana.”
Sanjay reassured that the Central schemes will not be stopped, stating, “We will ensure the benefits of welfare schemes reach the poor directly, bypassing any state interference.” He claimed that the Centre had provided Rs. 12 lakh crore to Telangana over the last decade and that significant development in the state is attributable to Central schemes.
The BJP leader concluded by asserting that the Congress government’s actions could harm the poor but promised that the Centre would intervene to prevent any injustice.