Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy slammed the Centre for showing discrimination against the state in the announcement of Padma awards.
He said that it was evident in the fact that only two people from Telangana were given the Padma awards while five people were chosen for the honour from the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
The Telangana government had recommended the names of folk singer balladeer Gaddar for Padma Vibhushan, educationist Chukka Ramaiah and poet Andesri for Padma Bhushan, poet and singer Goreti Venkanna and poet and historian Jayadheer Tirumala Rao for Padma Shri.
However, the authorities did not consider any of the names for the awards.
Instead, it picked Dr D. Nageshwar Reddy of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, in the field of medicine for Padma Vibhushan and Manda Krishna Madiga in public affairs for Padma Shri.
In Andhra Pradesh, actor-MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna was chosen for Padma Bhushan, K.L. Krishna and Vadiraj Raghavendracharya Panchamukhi for their contributions in the field of literature and education; Madugula Naga Phani Sarma and Miriyala Appa Rao (posthumous) for their contribution to the field of art — all the above for Padma Shri award.
Revanth Reddy said he would write to the Centre expressing dissatisfaction over the discrimination. Of the 139 people chosen for conferring the Padma awards, only two belong to Telangana, he pointed out.
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