Jammu: J&K`s Prominent Politician and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) co-founder Muzaffar Hussain Baig, whose name last night was announced for the prestigious Padma Bhushan awards, on Sunday remarked that the award was actually conferred on the people of Jammu and Kashmir, adding that both Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and US President Donald Trump had accepted that J&K was ‘an integral part of India.’

The former Deputy CM of J&K and Lok Sabha MP has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third-highest civilian award, for his ‘contribution to public affairs.’ He is among 16 individuals whose names have been announced for the honour.

Wilayat Times reports that while speaking to ANI on a day the country is celebrating its 71st Republic Day, Baig posed while holding a copy of constitution  said, “This award has not been conferred upon me but it is for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Notably, this is the first Republic Day after the government, on August 5 last year, revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and also split it into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Baig, 73, is a former Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir and also an advocate.

Remarking that ‘there can never be any referendum in J&K,’ Baig added, “Pakistan PM Imran Khan and US President Donald Trump are asking for autonomy to J&K. It means they’ve accepted that it is an integral part of India. We demand that J&K should be given what the Constitution gives us. ”

On the occasion of Republic Day, the government had yesterday announced a list of 141 names for the prestigious Padma Awards. While seven names were announced for the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award, 118 names were announced for the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian honour. The politician has been awarded for his contribution to “public affairs” and is amongst the 16 people who have been honoured with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award after Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan.

Meanwhile, Dr Tsering Landol from Ladakh has been honoured with prestigious Padma Bushan Award of this year. Dr Landol has been selected for the Award for his services in the field of medicine.
Noted writer/poet from Jammu Shiv Nirmohi has been awarded with Padma Shri for his outstanding contribution in the field of Literature, Chewang Motup Goba from Ladakh for his performance in the field of Trade and Industry, while, Javed Ahmed Tak, a specially-abled social worker from Kashmir, has been honoured for his outstanding contribution in the field of social work. Tak is providing free education, material aid and motivation to over 100 specially abled children of over 40 villages from Anantnag and Pulwama districts of Kashmir.