Thiruvananthapuram, Jan. 27 -- Senior CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby today said that late veteran leader and former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan would not have accepted the Padma Vibhushan had he been alive, reiterating the Communist Party's long-standing ideological position on civilian honours.
Talking to newspersons here, Baby said Achuthanandan had consistently maintained a critical view of state-conferred awards and had always believed that public service should not be linked to official recognition.
He added that the decision on accepting the posthumous award now rests entirely with Achuthanandan's family.
The union Government recently announced the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour, for Achuth...