Bangalore, Aug 07: Prakash Padukone, chairman of Arjuna Awards Committee last year, today expressed displeasure over the government "not even informing" him about the setting up of a new panel. "The least the government could have done was to send me a copy of the notification on appointing a new committee this year," Padukone said.
What pained the former All England Badminton champion was that he came to know about the announcement only through newspapers.
Padukone said when he was appointed chairman, he was not told about the duration of the committee's tenure and as no communication came, he was actually mentally preparing for the second term. It's not that he was keen on the post. Last year also, he was initially unwilling to accept the post but was successfully persuaded by the then Union Sports Minister Uma Bharti, he said.
Padukone said he failed to understand why the government did not even extend the "basic courtesy" of informing him. "Only that hurts, otherwise no regrets," he said. The committee under him last year, he believes, stuck to the guidelines and was able to bring "some respectability" to the awards.
The government recently appointed the new committee under the chairmanship of P K Banerjee. Bureau Report