On the eve of celebrating 70th Republic day, President of India has announced various prestigious awards . Nearly, 50,000 nominations were received for these awards. Government of India awarded 112 members with these awards in different fields. these included Bharat Ratna and Padma awards.
Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in India. In 2019 it is conferred to three Indians including Pranab Mukherjee , Nanaji Deshmukh , Bhupen Hazarika .
Pranab Mmukherjee is the former President of India who rendered his services from 2012 to 2017. Nanaji Deshmukh is a social activist and also a member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He rendered his services in the fields of education,health,rural self-reliance.He was also a member of Loksabha. Recognising his services to the nation, government made him a member of Rajya sabha in 1999. Bhupen Hazarika , a musician from Assam is a man of deep social commitment .
Amidst these things various contoversies are raised stating that awarding Bhupen Hazarika with highest civilian award will not stop the ongoing agitation about the citizenship bill in assam. State government of assam has already passed a legislation in 2010 urging the centre to confer Bharat Ratna to Bhupen Hazarika. In 2012 he was awarded with Padma Vibhushan. AASU (All Assam Student's Union) has told that conferring Bharat Ratna will never neutralise their agitation to protect the cultural identity of Assam. If passed , this bill will allow immigrants into Assam from neighbouring nations leading to the difference in composition of communities. On the other hand ,present government is benefitted from passing this bill as it changes the electoral composition in Assam. Irony is that no one could spill the beans about actual reason of their decision. Regardless of the pros and cons of the Citizenship(Ammendment) bill,2016.. if the real reason of conferring the award is to simmer down the agitation in Assam, then Indian democracy and heritage are at threat.
