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Pandey returns Magsaysay award money

Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey on Wednesday decided to return the award money of US $50,000 after criticism that he was accepting it from the US-based Ford Foundation, despite being a staunch opponent of American policies.

Pandey is the founder of the non-governmental organisation Asha (Hope), which supports education and livelihood projects for poor children in India, particularly dalits.

Pandey, who received the award in the emergent leadership category, said, "I had said before accepting the award that terrorism of any kind is condemnable. The unilateral military action taken by the US against some countries without the sanction of the UN was nothing, but state terrorism."

"I also took part in a protest march to the American embassy in Philippines, organised by the Asian Peace Alliance to protest the US efforts to reimpose its hegemony in Asia," he said.

"Following the criticism of my [anti-American] actions and the 'challenge' given by a local daily to return the cash prize, I sent back the check of US $30,000, the first instalment of the prize money," he said.

He decided against returning the award, as it was an 'honour'. "But I don't need the prize money to carry on with my programmes," he added.

On the issue of the defamation case against him and the demand by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to book him under the POTA for his alleged 'anti-national' statements, Pandey refused to answer any questions saying the matter was pending before the court.

Pandey had recently said, while commenting on the Indo-Pak standoff, that the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence and the Indian Research and Analysis Wing were carrying out same activities in each others' territory, which need to be stopped.

He had also said that the NDA government had compromised on all fronts and the Sangh Parivar outfits 'have become a threat to the very existence of our society, culture and nation'.

"If any one wants to say that I am anti-national due to this statement, then I don't think I need to give any clarification," he said.

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