New Delhi: The Padma Bhushan for Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has once again brought spotlight and division in the grand old party.

Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad was with ‘G-23’ rebel groups, his colleagues and friends in the Congress openly congratulated him for the country’s third-highest civilian award of the country.

Former Union minister and senior counsel in the Supreme Court, Kapil Sibal said that “Ghulam Nabi Azad conferred Padma Bhushan, Congratulations bhaijan. Ironic that the Congress doesn’t need his services when the nation recognizes his contributions to public life”, Sibal tweeted.

However, the Modi government’s decision of giving the Padma Bhushan award to Gulam Nabi Azad does not go well to Congress leaders who are loyal to the Gandhi family.

Congress leader and diehard loyalist of the Gandhi family, Jairam Ramesh said that “former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee declines the Padma Bhushan award. Right thing to do, He wants to be Azad, not Ghulam”, Ramesh tweeted sarcastically.

Former Union Minister Anand Sharma congratulated veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for being awarded for Padma Bhushan.

"Heartiest congratulations to Ghulam Nabi ji for well-deserved recognition of his lifelong enriching contribution to public service and Parliamentary democracy," Mr Sharma tweeted. Senior Congress leader Raj Babbar, congratulated Ghulam Nabi Azad.