John Abraham presented with the Pride of the Nation Award

Producer-actor John Abraham has been conferred with 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 his own production Madras Cafe. Constituted by the Anti Terrorist Front (ATF), its chairman M S Bitta handed over the award to Abraham. “Through Madras Cafe, Abraham has made a courageous attempt to unravel the conspiracy behind the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi,” Bitta remarked in a statement. 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. The ATF chairman said that there was a need to initiate an unbiased enquiry to expose the conspiracy that resulted in the death of Rajiv Gandhi. Encouraged by the success of his second production after Vicky Donor, Abraham said that his company was looking at the possibility of making a film 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 that went by the name of Zara Yaad Karo Qurbani. It may be remembered that Hamid was presented with the Veer Bravery Award posthumously. 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, also received 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 up a brave fight against chain snatchers despite being grievously injured by a bullet injury, also received an award from Abraham.