Mumbai, January 26: Hour before the Republic Day celebrations, a fresh controversy has erupted over the Padma awards, as writer Gita Mehta – sister of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik – declined to receive the prestigious award on Saturday. Stating the reason of Lok Sabha elections and the timing selected might be ‘misconstrued’.

Stating the reason for her denial to receive the Padma award, Mehta wrote from New York, “I am deeply honoured that the Government of India should think me worthy of a Padma Shri, but with great regret I feel I must decline as there is a general election looming and the timing of the award might be misconstrued, causing embarrassment both to the Government and myself, which I would much regret.” Pranab Mukherjee To be Conferred With Bharat Ratna Along With Nanaji Deshmukh and Dr Bhupen Hazarika 

Selected by the Union government as a recipient of the prestigious award, Mehta is among the 112 personalities listed. She is also among the 21 women named as a recipient for the award. However, with her rejection to receive the award a fresh controversy has started over the timing and selection procedure.

This is the first such denial for this year by any selected personality for the prestigious award. Though the reason for denial of receiving the award has been mentioned as elections, there are other aspects related to it, as her husband Sonny Mehta shares good relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 26, 2019 08:55 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).