Awards to Lukhoi ridiculed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 03 2020: The awards received by Tourism Minister O Lukhoi yesterday from an NGO has attracted criticisms on social media from netizens and the Congress has again fired fresh salvos against the BJP-led State Government over such awards it received recently.

O Lukhoi was given the "Bharat Excellence Award" for "individual excellence in public service and outstanding contribution towards the progress of the State" (Manipur) and "Jewel of North East Gold Award" for "his outstanding and extraordinary achievements in his chosen fields of activity and services rendered to promote greater friendship amongst all communities" .

Both the awards were given by an NGO-Friendship Forum India and it had courted many criticism from netizens on social media sites including Facebook.

It may be noted that O Lukhoi had won the by-election held on November 7 last from Wangoi Assembly Constituency on BJP ticket.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan today, MPCC vice president and former Minister M Hemanta said in a short span of time, the BJP-led State Government has received two "controversial" awards from NGOs (Non-Government Organisations) which "undermine the State prestige".

He said the Government had received the "Champion of Change Award 2018" and "State of the States Award 2019" given by NGOs not the Government.

"Government giving awards of excellence to NGOs is normal and is prestigious.

But a trend of going backwards has emerged recently.

Now the NGOs are giving awards to the Government.

This is surprising," Hemanta said, comparing the "new trend" with "a Grade IV employee giving awards to the Director for good work" .

The State Government should not receive such awards given by the NGOs and the officials and leaders of the Government should not visit Delhi to receive them, he said.

The "Champion of Change Award 2018" was received personally by the Chief Minister himself in Delhi.

The award was given by Interactive Forum on Indian Economy, a Delhi based NGO.

The same is the case with the India Today Group.

Receiving every award as given would not be right, Hemanta said.

* This news is as published by respected news daily at Imphal, whose name is duly marked as 'Source'. E-Pao.net is not responsible for it's sanctity & originality.

* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.