Gita Press, Gorakhpur, one of the world's largest publishers, has declined the Rs 1 crore cash reward for the Gandhi Peace Prize.

The Gita Press, celebrating its centenary this year, has been awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021.

On Sunday (18 June), the jury, headed by PM Narendra Modi, unanimously chose Gita Press as the recipient of the award.

The Prime Minister tweeted: "I congratulate Gita Press, Gorakhpur on being conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize 2021. They have done commendable work over the last 100 years towards furthering social and cultural transformations among the people. @GitaPress."

The publisher announced Monday (19 June) that it will only accept the citation and has suggested that the government should spend the cash reward amount elsewhere.

The award also includes a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft or handloom item.

The decision to honour Gita Press has been criticised by the Congress, who called it a "travesty" and "like awarding Savarkar and Godse."

In 1995, the Gandhi Peace Prize was instituted as an annual award to pay tribute to the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi, on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary.

Regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed, or gender, the award is open to all individuals.

In 2019, Oman's Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said was awarded, and in 2020, Bangladesh's Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was also awarded.