'Ascetic' Ramdev declines Padma award, writes to home ministry

New Delhi: Yoga guru Ramdev has declined any Padma award for him reportedly being considered by Central government on the occasion of 66th Republic Day. [caption id=“attachment_2060569” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Baba Ramdev. Agencies.[/caption] In a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, he referred to media reports that the government was considering his name for Padma Vibushan, the second highest civilian award but felt that as an “ascetic” he should refrain from getting “rewards or honours”. Ramdev requested the home minister instead to select some other personality for the award. According to media reports on Friday, which were denied later by the government, Baba Ramdev’s name in the list of people slated to receive the Padma awards. Following the media reports, a Ministry of Home Affairs release said, “The Government has not yet announced the Padma Awards for the Year 2015. These awards are announced on 25th of January every year, on the eve of the Republic Day. The names appearing in the media are speculative and there is no official confirmation for the same.” PTI