Will return my Padma Bhushan if demands not heard by govt: Anna Hazare

This comes after Bharatiya Janata Party ally Shiv Sena came out in Hazare's support, urging him to follow socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan’s footsteps and lead an agitation against corruption.

New Delhi: Social activist Anna Hazare whose hunger strike entered 5^th day on Sunday, issued a warning saying if Modi government didn’t fulfill his promises, he would return his honorable Padma Bhushan 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?” Hazare said. This comes after Bharatiya Janata Party ally Shiv Sena came out in Hazare's support, urging him to follow socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan’s footsteps and lead an agitation against corruption. Hazare has been on a hunger strike since last Wednesday at his native village Ralegan Siddhi  in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district. He has been demanding appointments of Lokpal and Lokayuktas and resolution of farmers' issue.

Anna Hazare: 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? (03.02.19) pic.twitter.com/bch2mmw08o

— ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2019

Hazare's demands include immediate appointment of anti-corruption ombudsmen Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states, implementation of Swaminathan Commission's recommendations for tackling agrarian distress and electoral reforms. Anna Hazare, 81 was awarded the third-highest civilian honour of the country in 1992.