Row after Adnan Sami gets Padma Shri, Congress slams govt

Adnan Sami receiving the coveted Padma Shri award triggered a row on social media and in the opposition camp on Sunday (January 26) after it was pointed out the London-born singer’s father was a Pakistan Air Force veteran.

The Congress slammed the Modi government over bestowing the honour on Sami and asked why Kargil War veteran Mohammad Sannaullah’s name was excluded from the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) list, which was published last August.

Hitting out at the Centre, Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said, “Kargil War veteran and retired army officer Mohammad Sanaullah who fought for India declared ‘foreigner’ after NRC and Adnan Sami whose family fought against India honoured with Padma Shri — This is the magic of NRC and government chamchagiri!”

He also posed questions to the government over the issue, asking why an Indian soldier like Sannaullah is declared a foreigner via the NRC for Assam and the son of a Pakistan Air Force pilot is given the Padma Shri. “Is contribution ‘Yogdan’ to society or BJP government ‘gungan’ (praise) new criteria? Is this New India?” Shergill asked.

Sami’s name was announced for the Padma Shri awards on Saturday, with the Ministry of Home Affairs list showing his home state as Maharashtra. He applied for Indian citizenship in 2015 and became a citizen of the country in January 2016.

(With inputs from agencies)

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