NEW DELHI: Names of spiritual leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, former cricket captain M S Dhoni, tabla maestro Zakir Hussain and over 18,000 other recommendations for Padma awards were rejected by the Government this year.
The long list of prominent politicians, celebrities, sports persons and social activists was made public by the Home Ministry after 89 personalities were selected for the prestigious awards on the eve of Republic Day.
Names of actor and Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan, filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, actor Manoj Bajpayee, late air hostess Neerja Bhanot, who was killed during a hijack in 1986, were recommended for the Padma award but they did not make it to the final list.
Among those who were named for the awards this year include NCP chief Sharad Pawar, senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, former Lok Sabha Speaker late P A Sangma, singer K J Yesudas, wrestler Sakshi Malik and gymnast Dipa Karmakar. (AGENCIES)
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