Indore: A controversy erupted today after the kin of noted lyricist late Kavi Pradeep, best known for his patriotic song 'Aye Mere Watan ke Logon', alleged that the state government had not invited them for a ceremony where an award in his name will be given to poet Gopaldas "Neeraj" tomorrow.

"We are happy the Madhya Pradesh Government is giving the national award in memory of Kavi Pradeep during his birth anniversary year. However, we neither received any formal intimation for the function from the government nor were we invited to attend the ceremony," Kavi Pradeep's daughter Mitul Pradeep told PTI over phone from Mumbai.