Anna Hazare threatens to return his Padma Bhushan

Ralegaon Siddhi, Maharashtra: Social activist Anna Hazare has threatened central government on Monday to return his Padma Bhushan if the government fails to fulfil its promises. Hazare has been on an indefinite hunger strike here in his native village and the strike entered the sixth day on Monday.

Yesterday, Bharatiya Janata Party ally Shiv Sena came out in Hazare’s support, urging him to emulate socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan and lead an agitation against corruption.

Hazare has been on a hunger strike since last Wednesday at his native Ralegan Siddhi village in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district, demanding appointments of Lokpal and Lokayuktas and resolution of farmers’ issue.

“If this government does not fulfil its promises made to the country in the next few days, I will return my Padma Bhushan,” he told PTI on Sunday evening. “(The) Modi government has breached the faith of people.

The 81-year-old was awarded the third-highest civilian honour of the country in 1992.

Hazare’s demands include the 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.

A group of local farmers and youths, in support of the octogenarian, had blocked Ahmednagar-Pune highway at Supa village in Parner tehsil on Sunday morning.

As many as 110 protesters were detained in the afternoon after the blockade led to severe traffic congestion. They were released later.

A doctor who inspected Hazare said his condition was slowly deteriorating.

Shiv Shena chief Udhav Thackeray met with the activist and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi led-government to take swift action and not fail on their electoral promises.

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