VS’ family not to receive Padma Vibhushan; accepts party's decision

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The family of former chief minister V S Achuthanandan will not accept the Padma Vibhushan posthumously conferred on him by the central government. The family has decided to go by the party's decision. VS’ son V A Arun Kumar had earlier clarified that his family’s decision is in line with the party’s stand.
The party's stand is that that communist leaders usually don’t accept such official honors. It was when those deserving the award were alive. The party centers decided that the family should decide as VS is no longer alive.

The family received a letter from the union home ministry yesterday stating that VS has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan. Arun Kumar had posted this on Facebook. He said that the love and respect shown by the people towards VS, who has walked alongside the Kerala public through popular struggles and unwavering political stances, has always been a great strength for them. This award is seen as a tribute to his public life.

However, the movement he represented has a clear political stance regarding accepting such awards. As a communist, he always held fast to those values and the decisions of the party. The family will stand by his father's ideals and party positions. We believe that the place VS has in the hearts of the people is bigger than any award. The note also says that he is grateful for the love that the people have given him.

EMS, Jyoti Basu, Harkishan Singh Surjit and Buddhadev Bhattacharya had previously refused awards. CPM General Secretary M A Baby had earlier responded that if V.S. had been there, he would have refused this award.