Hyderabad: Telugu Desam Party Chief N Chandrababu Naidu today criticised the Congress-led UPA government for awarding Padma Vibhushan to its leader and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

"Awards should be given for selfless service and excellence. If Congress gives awards to their own people, then the award loses its purpose. Congress has set a bad precedent," Naidu said at the TDP headquarters here.

Mukherjee was among several distinguished personalities including cricket genius Sachin Tendulkar, melody queen Asha Bhosle and industrialist Ratan Tata who were bestowed with the Padma Vibhushan award. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy congratulated Mukherjee yesterday for being awarded with the honour.

Mukherjee is a veteran parliamentarian, able administrator and a senior leader who has handled all important portfolios at the Centre, an official release quoted Reddy as saying.

Source : PTI