The Padma Awards ceremony held on Wednesday at Rashtrapati Bhavan saw the nation confer the honour on many eminent personalities but what stood out was the presence of UK's first lady Akshata Murthy at the ceremony and Bidri craft artist Shah Rasheed Ahmed Quadri's praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
At the function, author and philanthropist Sudha Murty was conferred with Padma Bhushan for social work. Among her family members who were in attendance was her daughter Akshata Murty, who is married to the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Akshata was spotted with her father Narayana Murthy, brother Rohan Murthy and Sudha Murthy’s sister in the middle row. Interestingly, British security personnel were nowhere in sight too.
However, on sensing protocol, she was immediately moved to the front row and seated next to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar before the function began. Besides Jaishankar, the family of vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union Minister Anurag Thakur were also seen in the same row.
Images doing rounds on social media also showed Akshata Murty next to Jaishankar as the national anthem was played at the beginning of the ceremony. However, all her other family members continued to sit in the middle row. The Murthys are known to shun publicity.
Another incident at the ceremony that hogged the limelight was veteran Bidri craft artist from Karnataka Shah Rasheed Ahmed Quadri's praise of Modi. Quadri, who received Padma Shri from President Droupadi Murmu, told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he was wrong in believing that the BJP government would not honour him with the prestigious civilian award.
When Modi wished Quadri and shook hands, he told the prime minister: "I was expecting a Padma award during the UPA government, but I did not get it. When your government came, I thought now the BJP government will not give me any award. But you have proved me wrong. I expressed my sincere gratitude to you".
The Prime Minister reciprocated Quadri with namaste and a smile. Home Minister Amit Shah also witnessed the interaction with a smile.