Are only Delhiites deserving of Padma awards? PM Modi questions 'lobbying'

NEW DELHI: Hinting at lobbying for Padma awards, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday questioned why most of the recipients of the prestigious awards belonged to Delhi. "After Independence, I think the maximum percentage of those who got these awards belonged to Delhi. That means, all the talent is in Delhi, all the sacrifice is done in Delhi, all the service is in Delhi. There is nothing else all across India," he said taking potshots at the previous governments at the Centre.

He also added that among these people from Delhi too, maximum were doctors who had connections with politicians. "Among those (awardees) too, most are doctors. And the reason for that is that they used to look after the health of the politicians," he quipped.

Speaking highly of his government, he said that since the BJP government came to power at the Centre, those in the far-off parts of the country have also been given due credit. "You must have seen in the last 2-3 years, the government has created a transparent system and because of this system, people who have spent their lives for the betterment of the society in the far-off areas of the country have got a chance to get recognition," he said while speaking at the inauguration of the new building premises of the Central Information Commission (CIC) in Delhi on Tuesday. 

He also said that there have been many examples in history when information is treated like a one-way channel and hence there were many serious consequences thereof. "So our government, instead of one-dimensional approach, works on the principle of the modern information highway," he said.

At the event, Modi also launched a mobile application of the CIC for tracking and filing appeals and complaints at the transparency panel. "I agree that an empowered citizen is the strongest pillar of our democracy. In the last four years you have seen how the central government has attempted to inform and empower the people of the country through different means," he said.

Underlining achievements of his government in ensuring transparency in work culture, Modi said information commonly asked for is being uploaded on web portals of the departments and ministries concerned, digital technology is being used to improve transparency and quality of citizen services.