Sharp criticism forced AP government to revoke GO

Hyderabad: Sharp criticism drawn from all quarters, forced the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to withdraw his decision to change the name of "Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Pratibha Puraskar", award .

The party drew flak when the Jagan Mohan Reddy led AP government issued a G.O to change the name from "Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Pratibha Puraskar", (an award given to students who excel in the SSC public examinations) to "YSR Vidya Puraskar".

The backslash forced the government to retrieve its order.

Earlier , the BJP, TDP fumed as AP government for replacing 'Kalam' with 'YSR' in student awards.

The announcement came in on Monday, the government order read , "After careful examination of the matter, Government has decided to introduce 'Y.S.R Vidya Puraskars' from the year 2018 onwards on the occasion of birth anniversary of Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad which is being celebrated as National Education Day across the country on 11th November. Accordingly, Government hereby orders to re-designate the 'Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Pratibha Puraskar Awards' as 'Y.S.R. Vidya Puraskars' from 2019. These awards shall be distributed at the district level with the participation of District Ministers / MPs / MLAs and are restricting the awards to Government school students."

The BJP, condemned the action, calling it the arrogance of the Jagan government. It said the re-designation of the award amounts to disrespect to the former President.

Telugu Desam chief and former AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the state had resorted to a shocking method to appease itself. "Dr. Kalam has accomplished much for the nation with his inspiring life. @ysjagan’s govt changing “APJ Abdul Kalam Pratibha Puraskar” to “YSR Vidya Puraskar” is a shocking method of self-aggrandizement at the cost of disrespecting a much venerated man. #YSRCPInsultsAbdulKalam," he tweeted.

Dr. Kalam has accomplished much for the nation with his inspiring life. @ysjagan’s govt changing “APJ Abdul Kalam Pratibha Puraskar” to “YSR Vidya Puraskar” is a shocking method of self-aggrandizement at the cost of disrespecting a much venerated man. #YSRCPInsultsAbdulKalam pic.twitter.com/7lPaZddNZF

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) November 5, 2019

However after receiving back slash, the government has now retrieved its order and its decision to rename the award.