• Ex-chief secretary Somlal Subedi was removed from the list for his anti-govt remarks

Kathmandu, September 4 President Bidhya Devi Bhandari today conferred various medals, awards, decoration and honours on 344 personalities, living or dead, in recognition of their contributions to the country. The recipients of the awards were announced during the Republic Day last year. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Nepal Ratna Man Padavi, the highest civilian award, was presented to first elected prime minister BP Koirala posthumously. Siddhartha Koirala, grandson of BP, received the award from President Bhandari amid a special function organised in the Office of the President. Similarly, Rastra Gaurav award was conferred on veteran political figure Mahandra Narayan Nidhi posthumously. His son and Nepali Congress leader Bimalendra Nidhi received the award. Though the government had announced that 345 personalities would be decorated, the Ministry of Home Affairs recently amended the list and withdrew the name of former chief secretary Somlal Subedi. He was among seven persons to be honoured with the Prasiddha Prawal Janasewashree. A MoHA source said the award to Subedi was revoked as he made harsh anti-government remarks in recent times after the Cabinet recalled him from Manila-based Asian Development Bank where he was working as its alternative director. Of late, he had also filed a complaint against the government at the National Information Commission. Similarly, Mahaujjwal Rastradeep Man Padavi was conferred on five persons — Sheikh Idris, Nona Koirala, Amik Sherchan, Barman Budha and Ram Kumar Yadav. Manohar Prasad Bhattarai received Ujjwal Kirtimaya Rastradeep Man Padavi. Likewise, Sukritimaya Rastradeep Man Padavi was awarded to 21 persons, Suoprabal Janasewashree to 119 persons, Kirtimaya Rastradeep to five persons, Prawal Janasewashree to 140 persons, Janasewashree to 45 persons. Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, ministers and chiefs of the constitutional bodies were also present at the programme.