New Delhi:
The BJP has protested against the government's decision to award the Padma Bhushan to Non-Resident Indian hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal. In a letter to President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the party has asked that Chatwal's award be withdrawn.
In his letter to the Preisdent and the Prime Minister, Gopinath Munde, who is the deputy leader of the BJP in the Lok Sabha, said that Chatwal's controversial financial dealings should have made him ineligible for the honour.
Chatwal was arrested a few years ago in Mumbai in connection with a CBI case which accused him of a 9 million dollar scam related to the State Bank of India. The case against him was later closed. He has also been accused of defaulting on massive payments to Indian and foreign banks.
But in America, an elated Chatwal said he was being thanked for strengthening the Indo-US relationship for the past several decades.
"I am very grateful to the Government of India that after such a long time they have really recognised the services; that they are putting the trust in me and honouring me with their most prestigious civilian award," Chatwal told PTI.
"I single handedly worked in 2006-07 for the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement to make sure that it went very successfully," he said.
Chatwal, who runs successful chains of restaurants and hotels, said he has worked tirelessly on Indo-US relationships since the 1980s.
He is a known friend of former US President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Asked about the Indo-US relationship in the Obama Administration, Chatwal said: "The relationship between the United States and India is going forward excellent, moving forward in a great spirit."
Obama would be visiting India later this year, he said.
In his letter to the Preisdent and the Prime Minister, Gopinath Munde, who is the deputy leader of the BJP in the Lok Sabha, said that Chatwal's controversial financial dealings should have made him ineligible for the honour.
Chatwal was arrested a few years ago in Mumbai in connection with a CBI case which accused him of a 9 million dollar scam related to the State Bank of India. The case against him was later closed. He has also been accused of defaulting on massive payments to Indian and foreign banks.
But in America, an elated Chatwal said he was being thanked for strengthening the Indo-US relationship for the past several decades.
"I am very grateful to the Government of India that after such a long time they have really recognised the services; that they are putting the trust in me and honouring me with their most prestigious civilian award," Chatwal told PTI.
"I single handedly worked in 2006-07 for the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement to make sure that it went very successfully," he said.
Chatwal, who runs successful chains of restaurants and hotels, said he has worked tirelessly on Indo-US relationships since the 1980s.
He is a known friend of former US President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Asked about the Indo-US relationship in the Obama Administration, Chatwal said: "The relationship between the United States and India is going forward excellent, moving forward in a great spirit."
Obama would be visiting India later this year, he said.
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