New Delhi: 4,208 people had recommended rape convict and Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for a 2017 Padma award, five of them were from the spiritual leader himself. According to the list of nominations for Padma Awards 2017, the Union home ministry received 18,768 applications.
All recommendations marked in the name of ‘Saint Dr Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan’ had come from Sirsa in Haryana, the headquarters of the Dera Sacha Sauda, reports NDTV.
And interestingly, those who recommended the ‘rockstar baba’ for the highest civilian honour in the country used single names such as Abha, Aditya, Akbar, Alfez, Baljinder, Milky, Gajal, Komal, Jony, Jesse and Ishwar. Amit of Sirsa, recommended Ram Rahim’s name 31 times, and a Sunil nominated him 27 times.
The ‘guru of bling’ got sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping two sadhvis early this week in cases that date back to 2002.
The awards are given for excelling in art, literature and education, sports, medicine, social work, science and engineering, public affairs, civil service, trade and industry. The names are announced on the eve of Republic Day.
Anyone can nominate any person for the Padma Awards. The nominations or recommendations for the awards can be received online only on the portal www.padmaawards.gov.in designed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.