FAREKUVA: Social activist Baba Amte has returned Padmashri and Padma Vibhushan the second and the fourth highest civilian awards to the president.
The Magsaysay Award winner had announced on January 9 that he would return the awards in protest against the inhuman treatment meted out to tribals by the government of the West Indian states of Gujaratand Madhya Pradesh during the anti-dam Narmada protests.
The awards were returned to the president by registered post on the republic day an Andolan spokesman said.
Baba Amte protesting against the Sardar Sarovar project in Gujarat said he would “remain in the Narmada valley with the tribals till he is submerged in the waters of the Narmada after the dam comes up.”
Article extracted from this publication >> February 8, 1991
