Months after responding to speculations and declining to be considered for Padma awards, yoga guru Ramdev on Saturday sparked a minor controversy by saying that a huge amount of canvassing goes behind the scenes of these national awards.

Speaking to scribes on the sidelines of an event, Ramdev said he had immense respect for recipients of the Padma awards. "Everyone knows that all awards from Padma Bhushan to Padma Shri are given to good people," he said, and in the same vein added, "But to get these awards there is huge amount of lobbying and politically influential people are successful in getting them (awards)."

Earlier this year, Ramdev and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had declined any Padma award for them after reportedly being considered by the government for the honour.

Ramdev had written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and referred to media reports that the government was considering his name for Padma Vibushan (the second highest civilian award), but felt that as an “ascetic” he should refrain from accepting “rewards or honours.”

Ramdev had requested the Home Minister instead to select some other deserving person for the award.

“I should be allowed to serve selflessly and the award should be given to some other deserving person,” Ramdev was quoted to have said in his letter to the Home Minister.