In an order issued on Monday, the Andhra Pradesh government led by YS Jaganmohan Reddy has decided to rename an award named after former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in the memory of Jaganmohan Reddy’s father YS Rajasekhara Reddy.
The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to rename “Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Pratibha Puraskar Awards” as “YSR Vidya Puraskars” from this year onwards.
The awards, which are distributed to meritorious students in the state will now be named after a Congress leader instead of former President APJ Abdul Kalam. The awards will be distributed on the occasion of National Education Day, the birth anniversary of India’s first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, on 11th November.
“After careful examination of the matter, Government have decided to introduce ‘Y.S.R. Vidya Puraskars’ from the year 2019 onwards on the occasion of birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad which is being celebrated as National Education Day across the country on 11th November. Accordingly, Government hereby orders to re-designate the “Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Pratibha Puraskar Awards” as “Y.S.R. Vidya Puraskars” from 2019 onwards for distribution on the occasion of birth anniversary of Moulana Abul Kalam Azad as National Education Day on 11th November,” read the Andhra Pradesh government notification.
YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the father of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, was a two-time Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Rajashekhar Reddy, who belonged to the Congress party, was accused of amassing large amounts of money during his tenure as the Chief Minister.