SM Krishna says he is 'too humbled', dedicates Padma Vibhushan to people of Karnataka

Veteran politician and former Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna, who has been conferred with Pma Vibhushan, second-highest civilian award of country, on Thursday said he will dedicate award to people of state, who have nurtured him for six deces.

Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 90-year old leer, who has been given award in 'Public Affairs' category said, he is " too humbled" to accept award.

"My parents will be pleased and happy for that honourable Prime Minister and Home Minister have thought it fit to confer this prestigious distinction on me. I'm grateful to government of India and I'm also grateful to people of Karnataka," Krishna said.

He said, he will dedicate award to people of Karnataka, who have nurtured him in last six deces.

"I was least expecting anything, this is something which has been blessed, and I'm too humbled to accept this," he ded.

Krishna, who was with BJP until recently, h earlier this month said that he was retiring from active politics, citing his age as reason.

He was 16th Chief Minister of Karnataka, from October 11, 1999, to May 28, 2004 (from Congress). He h served as Governor of Maharashtra and was External Affairs Minister during Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from 2009 to 2012.

A law gruate, he studied in United States gruating from Sourn Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and George Washington University Law School in Washington DC, where he was a Fulbright Scholar.

Krishna started his career in electoral politics in 1962 by winning Mdur Assembly seat as an independent by defeating Congress' KV Shankar Gowda. He was n associated with Praja Socialist Party before joining Congress.

Krishna h served as Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly from December 1989 to January 1993. He was also a member of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha at various times from 1971 to 2014.

He was a member of both Karnataka Assembly and Council, and also h served as Deputy Chief Minister (1993 to 1994), and was Karnataka Presh Congress Committee president ahe of 1999 Assembly polls in which party won and he became Chief Minister.

Krishna is credited by many for putting Bengaluru on global map, as a fillip given to IT sector during his tenure has resulted in city growing as ‘India's Silicon Valley’. He h joined BJP in March 2017, ending his nearly 50- year-long association with Congress.