Award Wapsi: Anna Hazare Warns of Returning Padma Bhushan If Centre Doesn't Fulfil its Lokpal and Lokayukta Promises

Mumbai, February 4: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Sunday said he will return his Padma Bhushan award to President Ram Nath Kovind if the government doesn't fulfil his demand for Lokpal and Lokayukta. According to a tweet by ANI, Anna said, if the country or society is in this condition, then why should he keep the award. "I will be returning my Padma Bhushan award to the President. I did not work for that award, you only gave me that while I was working for social cause & the country. If the country or society is in this condition, then why should I keep that?", he said.

According to reports, Anna has lost 3.8 kg in the past five days and his blood pressure, blood sugar and creatinine level in the urine had gone up. Anna is protesting over his long-pending demands that haven't been fulfilled by the Narendra Modi government. Aribam Syam Sharma, Manipuri Filmmaker, Returns His Padma Shri Award.

The demands include an immediate appointment of anti-corruption ombudsmen Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states, and the implementation of Swaminathan Commission's recommendations for tackling agrarian distress and electoral reforms. The 81-year old social activist is observing an indefinite hunger strike since January 30 at his native Ralegan Siddhi village in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district.

Here's the tweet:

Anna, who was awarded the third-highest civilian honour of the country in 1992, has warned that if the Narendra Modi government did not fulfil its promises, he would return his Padma Bhushan to the President. On Sunday, BJP's ally Shiv Sena came out in Hazare's support and urged him to emulate socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan and lead an agitation against corruption.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 04, 2019 12:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).