New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday gave the Padma award for the year 2020 to the winners at a Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar were also present at the award ceremony.
Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian honour, has been awarded to the veteran socialist leader and former Defence Minister George Fernandes, former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. All these awards were conferred posthumously.
Padma Vibhushan has also been conferred to Mauritian politician Anerood Jugnauth who served both as President and Prime Minister of Mauritius. Classical singer Chhannulal Mishra, boxer Mary Kom, and late seer of Pejawar Mutt Vishwesha Tirtha Swami also received the honour.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the winners and said, “Attended the first of the Padma Award ceremonies for the years 2020 and 2021. I felt extremely happy to see grassroots level achievers being recognised for their exemplary efforts to further public good”. “Congratulations to all those who have been conferred the People’s Padma,” he said.
“From the environment to enterprise, agriculture to the arts, science to social service, public administration to cinema…recipients of the People’s Padma come from diverse backgrounds. I would urge you all to know about each of the awardees and get inspired,” he said.
Home Minister Amit Shah remembered Fernandes, Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj, and paid tributes to the leader who were conferred the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.
The President presented four Padma Vibhushan, eight Padma Bhushan and sixty-one Padma Shri Awards for the year 2020.
