'My statement shown out of context', says Sharad Yadav on 'dishonest' Padma Awards remark

Janta Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav on Saturday defended his controversial statement on Padma Awards being 'dishonest' ('beymaan') and not representing India properly, saying that his statement was shown 'out of context'.

He also went on to question the awards, saying that tribals, adivasis and people from backward classes have not been conferred with the award in the last 68 years.

"The media has not shown my complete statement. I was answering a question that was asked at the event... it (the statement) is shown out of context", he told ANI.

"Did they not find a single Dalit, Adivasi or farmer in the last 68 years to give the award to?" he added.

Yadav's statement came on Friday at a function, where he said, "Samajwadi people (Socialists) should refuse Padmashri and Padmabhushan (uspe laat maarna chahiye)... These awards are given to only those people who are dishonest (beymaan)... these are given only to people from the high echelons of society", the JD(U) leader had said.

Last month, Yadav was in the limelight for his controversial remark about the body and skin of south Indian women in the Parliament, where he spoke about discrimination on the basis of the colour of skin.