‘Corona Karmayodha’ award to anti-CAA protester sparks row; BJP leader writes protest letter to UP CM

The decision of the Lucknow Nagar Nigam to felicitate an anti-CAA activist with ‘Corona Karmyodha’ certificate and a cash award has sparked a row with BJP corporators  questioning the parameters under which such awards are given to a person who allegedly ‘spewed venom’against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The person in question – Sayed Uzma Parveen, who had led anti-CAA protest in Lucknow – has threatened to return the award if people question her dedication to serve people.

BJP leader Dilip Srivastava, Corporator from the Maithlisharan ward in Lucknow, has written a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath requesting him to order a probe into the matter.

“It is disgusting to know that Nagar Nigam has given a certificate signed by Municipal Commissioner to Mrs Syed Ujma Praveen who had led anti-CAA protest and levelled baseless allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Corporators want to know what are the parameters under which she was felicitated while hundreds of Nagar Nigam workers who are working tirelessly are ignored,” Srivastava said.

He said that the lady, who claims to be social worker, was given a cash prize of Rs 11,000 and a sodium hypochloride machine.

“No rules were framed to felicitate workers nor any permission taken by the Nagar Nigam Executive Board. The Nagar Nigam works under the Nagar Nigam Act, 1959 under which the Commissioner is bound to take permission from the Executive before taking any decision,” Srivastava said.

He said the act of the Commissioner transgresses the laid rules and procedures. “At every mohalla, Nagar Nigam workers are working ceaselessly. The Yogi government is providing medicines, machines and other contraptions; then what is the contribution of this lady,” asks the Corporator.

Srivastava has appealed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take action against the officials who are out to felicitate ‘a person who has spread lies against BJP governments – both state and Centre’.

On the other hand, Praveen says that she is ready to return the award if some people have objections to it. “Staging democratic protest against government decision is different and it cannot be equated with helping people during this pandemic,” she said.