It was my own decision to decline Magsaysay Award: KK Shailaja

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Health Minister KK Shailaja said that it was her own decision to decline the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award. Shailaja was speaking on Kaumudy TV Straight Line interview program. This is the first time she is talking to a television channel after stepping down as health minister.

"The party did not ask me to decline the award. I received a letter which stated that I was selected as one of the four award winners. When this information was brought to the notice of party general secretary Sitaram Yechury, he asked me what was wrong with accepting the award. However, when I searched about it on Google, I found that the award was named after a person who harmed many communists. But Magsaysay has also done a lot of service work. This honour is described as the second Nobel. Others who won the Magsaysay Award in the past were all great contributors. What would I say if the ordinary party workers asked me why I accepted an award named after someone who was against the Communists?" Shailaja said.