By Our Special Correspondent
Senior CPM leader and former Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja refused to accept the late Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay Award for atrocities against communists.
Shailaja told reporters in Kerala that she declined the award as she was not interested in receiving it in her personal capacity, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the award was named after Ramon Magsaysay, who had a history of brutal suppression of communists Philippines.
Shailaja, a member of the CPM central committee, took the decision after consulting the party's national leadership. The former health minister said that she was considered for the award for work that was actually part of a collective effort and it was not appropriate for her to receive it in her personal capacity. "
The award is named after Ramon Magsaysay, who had a history of brutal suppression of communists in the Philippines. So, all these factors combined, she is the first politician to get it, which she politely declined," Yechury said.
Some media outlets on Sunday reported that Shailaja refused to accept the award after consultation with the party. "NGOs cannot support communist ideology.
So it is not right for me to receive it as an individual because I was actually considered for something that was part of a collective effort.
That's why I decided not to accept the award. I thanked them and politely declined that I was not interested in receiving the award in a personal capacity," Sailaja said.
Yechury, who met with reporters in New Delhi, said that the award is being given for the management of public health issues in Kerala. “This is a joint effort of the LDF government in Kerala and the health department.
So, this is not an individual effort,” Yechury said. He said the Magsaysay Award has not been given to any active politician so far and the party's highest decision-making body is the Central Committee.
Comments