Anna Hazare rejects Rs 1 crore award

Mumbai, May 5: Social activist Anna Hazare, whose fast for a stronger anti-corruption Lok Pal Bill last month made global headlines, has spurned the Rs one crore 2011 Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize announced by the Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM).

"I have rejected the award announced by the Delhi-based organisation," Hazare told reporters at Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district.

"I cannot tell why I decided to reject the award. But my mind said ''no'' to accepting the award," Hazare said.

The award carries a cash reward of one crore rupees, a gold medal and a citation.

While announcing the award, IIPM Dean, Professor Arindam Chaudhuri, had said the anti-corruption crusader was selected for the award "to show strong solidarity" to his determined and non-violent protest against corruption.

PTI