Writer and Naveen Patnaik's sister Gita Mehta declines Padma Shri award
New Delhi, Jan 26 (IBNS): Author Gita Mehta, who is also the sister of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has turned down Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India, which was announced on Friday, saying the timing of conferment of the honour might be "misconstrued", media reports said.
In a statement, Mehta said as quoted by News 18, "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 (sic)."
Interestingly, Patnaik on Friday took to Twitter to congratulate Padma award winners from Odisha but skipped Mehta's name.
The Chief Minister had tweeted, "Heartfelt congratulations to #Odisha’s illustrious achievers Shri Daitari Naik, Ms Kamala Pujhari and Shri Devarapalli Prakash Rao, for being amongst Padma award winners; wish them the very best for their continued work and greater success"
Heartfelt congratulations to #Odisha’s illustrious achievers Shri Daitari Naik, Ms Kamala Pujhari and Shri Devarapalli Prakash Rao, for being amongst Padma award winners; wish them the very best for their continued work and greater success
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) January 26, 2019
Earlier, Mehta and her husband Sonny had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the meeting was perceived by the political world as the ruling BJP's attempt to get close to Patnaik's political outfit, BJD.
At a time several parties are vowing to come together to form an anti-BJP front, Patnaik is staying away from such an Opposition's bloc.
The BJD chief has also stated he will maintain an equal distance from both the BJP and Congress in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP, which has recently lost the elections which took place in the Hindi heartland comprising Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, is eyeing on to gain big in Patnaik's state.
Image: Screenshot grab from Kanak News/ Youtube
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