‘Gau Rakshak’ Sudevi Allowed to Stay in India, Won’t Return Award
The German national had threatened to return her award after her application for visa extension had been rejected.
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German national Friederike Irina Bruning, aka Sudevi Mataji, who was awarded the Padma Shri for cow protection this year, has been issued a new visa allowing her to stay on in India after a row had erupted over the denial of visa extension to her, AFP reported on Monday, 27 May.
Sixty-one-year-old Bruning had threatened to return her award after her application for visa extension for further stay in India had reportedly been rejected by the MEA.
But earlier on Monday, Bruning had said she would not return the award which was given to her with “love and respect.”
“How can I return something which was given to me with live and respect? But, if I am not being allowed to continue the work which I was honoured for, then why did they award me in the first place?” Bruning was quoted by ANI as saying earlier.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had on Sunday sought a report over the reported denial of visa extension to the German Padma Shri awardee.
Reacting to the media report, Swaraj had tweeted: "Thanks for bringing this to my notice. I have asked for a report."
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