Enquiry Demanded Into Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards

"Padma Shri" sought for prominent American chaplain Rajan Zed

Some organizations have demanded an immediate thorough investigation into the awarding of this year's prestigious "Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (PBS) Awards", alleging nepotism and policy violation among other charges.

Dharam Loonaa, a journalist and President of Prayer and Peace Circle, in faxes to India's President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Lok Sabha Speaker, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, and Bharatiya Janata Party President Rajnath Singh, alleging disregard of official guidelines by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), said that highly deserving candidate, prominent chaplain and Indo-American leader Rajan Zed, has been totally ignored in the PBS Awards, which were given at New Delhi on January nine.

Besides extensive inquiry into the granting of this year's PBS Awards, as a measure of remedy, Government of India should award Rajan Zed with a "Padma Shri" award, Loonaa stressed. Other organizations and individuals who joined Loonaa on this issue, included India Heritage Panel; Society of Community Journalists; Lila D. Sharma, Secretary of International Trade Front; Ashok Singhi, leader of Indian Media Centre; Friends of Rajan Zed; etc.

He said that by not awarding Zed, MOIA has made a mockery of PBS Awards, which are considered most prestigious awards for overseas Indians. Official guidelines in this regard were not completely followed and Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the flagship event of MOIA, smells of favouritism and unfairness. On the other hand, b y honoring such a great soul like Rajan Zed on Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, MOIA in fact would have been honoring itself, he added.

Loonaa disclosed that they would inspect documents, records, memos, e-mails, logbooks, computer and electronic data, etc., of MOIA and other bodies related to PBS Awards under Right to Information Act to find the truth.

Rajan Zed was the first to read prayer from ancient Sanskrit scriptures in United States Senate in Washington DC on July 12 last in its 218 years history. His work in interfaith dialogue is well known in the region.

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com

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