Padma not for tainted,check with govt on Chatwal: Cong

The Congress today signalled distancing itself from the government on the issue of awarding the Padma Bhushan to US-based NRI hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal. Maintaining that such awards should not be given to those with a taint,the ruling party said it was for the government to explain the reasons for the award to Chatwal who,as first reported by The Sunday Express,had been chargesheeted by the CBI in a fraud case.

In general,this award should be given to people who enhance its prestige and not to those with a taint. As for the specific case of Chatwal,it is for the government to decide. Only the government can explain, said AICC spokesman Shakeel Ahmed,adding that the Ministry of Home Affairs might have reasons for giving the award to the hotelier.

Ludhiana MP and Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said: There is a rigorous committee-based process which scrutinises and vets every recommendation8230;It is incorrect for any party to try and score political brownie points.

Gopinath Munde,BJP Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha,had earlier written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,objecting to the Padma award for Chatwal.

A PTI report from Washington quoted Chatwal as saying: I have really no idea about BJPs objection. I love my country and I have been working for the past 30 years. I dont care for the parties. They will come and go.