J&K Govt Distances from Padma Shri Award to Mir

After Padma Shri being awarded to Ghulam Mohammed Mir, a former militant, Jammu and Kashmir government is seeking to distance itself from the matter, reported PTI.

Mir, however, said that he deserved the award on the basis of his anti-militancy operations during the crucial period in the state, said report.

As selection of a counter-insurgent for the award gets into controversy, chief minister Omar Abdullah was quoted as saying, “I am not aware of the state government making any recommendations. There is unfortunately a lot of controversy over this year’s award.”

“We had made some recommendations including that of Rukhsana for bravery. But this is not our recommendation,” the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister was quoted as saying while talking to reporters in Srinagar.

Omar said that it was possible that the award had been done at a personal level, said report.

However, report said quoting sources in New Delhi that Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, former BJP leader Harsh Vardhan had supported Mir for the award.