John Abraham honoured with the 'Pride of the Nation' Award

Bollywood actor John Abraham was today conferred the 'Pride of the Nation' award for his attempt to raise the sensitive issue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination through his role as a RAW agent in "Madras Cafe".
Constituted by Anti Terrorist Front, the award was presented to Abraham by its chairman M S Bitta at a function here.
"Through 'Madras Cafe' Abraham made a courageous attempt to unravel the conspiracy behind the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi," Bitta said addressing the gathering.
The film "Madras Cafe" is set in the late 80s and early 1990s, during the time of Sri Lankan civil war and the assassination of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Bitta said there was a need to initiate an "unbiased enquiry to expose the conspiracy" which resulted in the death of Rajiv Gandhi.
Encouraged by the success of his movie as a producer, Abraham said his company would look into possibility of making a movie on Abdul Hamid, who was conferred Param Vir Chakra posthumously for his bravery during 1965 Indo-Pak war.

"Abdul Hamid made a supreme sacrifice during the war and his story is awe-inspiring. I will definitely try to make a movie on his life," Abraham said.
Hamid's 92-year-old wife Rasoolan Bibi, was present during the function "Zara Yaad Karo Qurbani". Hamid was presented Veer Bravery Award posthumously and it was received by his wife.

The bravery awards were conferred on four BSF men posthumously. They had lost their lives in a recent Naxal attack in Odisha.
Five army personnel, who died in an ambushed in Pooch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, were also conferred the bravery awards posthumously. Two army soldiers who were beheaded by Pakistani troops this year in January were also conferred the honour posthumously.
Delhi girl Komal Malhotra, who put a brave fight against chain snatchers despite being grievously injured by a bullet injury, also received an award from Abraham.