Ironic that Congress doesn't need his services when nation recognises his contributions: Kapil Sibal on Padma award to Ghulam Nabi Azad

New Delhi: As the government announced the Padma Bhushan award to senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on the eve of Republic Day, it evoked mixed reactions from his party colleagues. 

While, Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari congratulated him, Kapil Sibal and Jairam Ramesh took a jibe.

"Right thing to do. He wants to be Azad not Ghulam," Ramesh tweeted.

Right thing to do. He wants to be Azad not Ghulam. https://t.co/iMWF00S9Ib

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 25, 2022

Ramesh also retweeted former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who declined the Padma Bhushan award. Along with Azad, Bhattacharya was also named in the list of awardees.

“I don't know anything about the Padma Bhushan. No one has told me anything about it. If indeed they have given me the Padma Bhushan, then I reject it,” read Bhattacharjee's statement issued in Bengali.

Former Party PB member & WB CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had this to say on the Padma Bhushan award announcement.
“I don't know anything about Padman Bhusan award,none has said anything about it. If I have been given Padma Bhushan I refuse to accept it.”

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) January 25, 2022

Kapil Sibal said: "Congratulations bhaijan . Ironic that the Congress doesn't need his services when the nation recognises his contributions to public life."

Ghulam Nabi Azad conferred Padam Bhushan

Congratulations bhaijan

Ironic that the Congress doesn’t need his services when the nation recognises his contributions to public life

— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) January 26, 2022

Manish Tewari tweeted, "I congratulate @ghulamnazad on being conferred the Padma Bhushan for his public Service. It is a well deserved recognition."

I congratulate @ghulamnazad on being conferred the Padma Bhushan for his public Service.

It is a well deserved recognition. pic.twitter.com/B71pRfyRtm

— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) January 26, 2022

Tharoor congratulated the former Jammu and Kashmir CM on being conferred with the Padma award. “Warm congratulations to Shri @ghulamnazad on his Padma Bhushan. It is good to be recognized for one's public service even by a government of the other side,” his tweeted.

Warm congratulations to Shri @ghulamnazad on his Padma Bhushan. It is good to be recognized for one's public service even by a government of the other side. https://t.co/OIT0iVNPjo

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 25, 2022

Azad is part of the group of 23 which has been critical of the party leadership and wanted a chance at the helm. (UNI)