Anna acts tough, threatens to return Padma Bhushan

With no signs of softness on the part of government, Team Anna on Tuesday tried to put up a brave face at Jantar Mantar.

Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare declared he did not want any dialogue even with the prime minister and threatened to return the Padma Bhusan award conferred on him.“I do not want any minister to come for dialogue as their presence may give me a bad name.

“They need not come here. There is a need to clean the politics and our agitation will continue till we achieve our goal. I can return Padma Bhushan when the time will come.

People’s support is the greatest reward for me, ” said the Gandhian in his evening address at the fast venue. The government reiterated its stand that what the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has written in two letters to Hazare under the advise of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is its current stand as well. “What is stated in the letter is the government's position to the best of my knowledge,” Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters.

Meanwhile, doctors advised hospitalisation of Key Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal and Gopal Rai on their seventh day of fast, but they refused to oblige. On Tuesday, Team Anna had to grapple with the problem of growing tension between Anna supporters and media over the coverage of Jantar Mantar fast. A scuffle had also broken between Anna supporters and journalists at around 10 pm soon after senior Team Anna member accused media of not presenting right picture.