'Padma for Chatwal recommended by PMO'

NEW DELHI: Smarting from the row over Padma Bhushan to US hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, government on Wednesday went overboard defending the controversial decision raising many eyebrows in Congress and elsewhere in the process.
In an unusually long and detailed response after Congress's disapproval of giving Padma awards to "tainted", the ministry of home affairs came out with a full-throated endorsement of the US hotelier, pointing out that Chatwal was given the Rajiv Gandhi Award in 2005.
The MHA said that three of the five cases registered by CBI against Chatwal for allegedly defrauding banks were closed by the agency, while in the other two he was dischraged by the court.
The ministry described Chatwal, whose name along with other Persons of Indian Origin was recommended by PMO in keeping with the procedure, as "a tireless advocate of India's interests in USA", who has been working relentlessly for "strengthening bilateral relationships between India and the United States". The ministry called Chatwal a prominent member of the Indian-American community who "has distinguished himself in the hospitality sector and been an active member of the NRI community in the US in securing support for the nuclear deal among members of the US Congress."
As part of its "good conduct" testimonial, the ministry's statement went on to say: "He (Chatwal) is trustee of William J Clinton Foundation which focuses on critical global issues such as health care, climate change and economic empowerment of the underprivileged in the world community."
It further recognised his role in securing support for the nuclear deal and said, "Mr Chatwal has distinguished himself in the hospitality sector and has been an active member of the NRI community in the USA in security support for the nuclear deal among the members of the Congress of the United States."
However, the "over-the-top" response appeared to have puzzled some Congress leaders who questioned the desirability of making the reference to "Rajiv Gandhi Award" in a bickering which has the BJP demanding that the recognition for Chatwal be scrapped.
The "Rajiv Gandhi Award", mentioned in the home ministry's defence, is like many similar others instituted by Congressmen. The website of Rajiv Gandhi Awards informs that it was set up by Mumbai Congressman, Charan Singh Sapara, who, interestingly, introduces himself as MLC of Maharashtra government. Though it carries a purported endorsement from Sonia Gandhi, sources in Congress insisted that there was nothing "official" about it.
Ditto for the Khalsa Award, cited by the home ministry in its defence of Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civil decoration, for Chatwal.
The statement said that Chatwal received the Khalsa Award from the Punjab government. Inquiries, however, revealed that the association of the Punjab government with the award was not direct; it was actually given by the Anandpur Saheb Trust in connection with the Tricentenary Celebrations of Khalsa Panth. The chief minister of Punjab is the ex-officio president of the Anandpur Saheb Trust.
The MHA claimed that Chatwal's name was cleared after a "due diligence" exercise that is undertaken in respect of each awardee.
It also asserted the laid down procedure was followed in the selection of Chatwal and other recipients. "No Padma award is conferred except on the recommendation of the awards committee constituted for the purpose and after the due diligence has been done," asserted the ministry.
Interestingly, it was only last year that the ministry had admitted that additions were made to the list prepared by the screening committee under the NDA government following phone calls from important quarters.
"He is the founder trustee of the American India Foundation and has made frequent trips to India to provide relief to victims of tsunami and AIDS," the statement said of Chatwal.
Do you support the RTI on how and why Chatwal was awarded the Padma Shri?