NEW DELHI: Even before the Centre officially declared the list of this year’s Padma awardees, Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has asked the Centre not to consider his name for bestowing the honour, while spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of the Art of Living has also politely declined the Padma award.
Referring to media reports, Ramdev wrote to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh saying that the Centre was said to be actively considering his name for Padma Vibushan, but being an “ascetic”, he had to refrain from accepting “rewards or honours”. Ramdev requested the Home Minister instead to select some other person for the award. Padma Vibushan is the second highest civilian award.