Won’t hold talks with anyone: Anna

As his indefinite fast entered the third day, Anna Hazare on Tuesday ruled out holding any talks even with the prime minister and vowed to continue the stir till their demands were met. The government too has shown no signs of initiating negotiations with his team either.

As his indefinite fast entered the third day, Anna Hazare on Tuesday ruled out holding any talks even with the prime minister and vowed to continue the stir till their demands were met. The government too has shown no signs of initiating negotiations with his team either.

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Hazare even threatened to return his Padma Bhushan. The tough posturing came on a day when his close aides Arvind Kejriwal and Gopal Rai, whose fast entered the seventh day, were advised hospitalisation by doctors. The two, however, rejected the advice, saying they were "not cowards who will give up because of health concerns".

The day also saw Team Anna targeting UPA government, saying their mission was to ensure that "new and apt people" come to power in the 2014 general elections. The team also attacked the BJP for supporting the movement to further its political cause.

In his evening address, Hazare said, "The government says they will not send any representative to talk to us. We don't want anyone to come and talk to us. The agitation will continue till our demands are met. I am not even ready to talk to the prime minister... I can return my Padma Bhushan right now. The people have given me such a big award."

Hazare was awarded the Padma Shri in 1990 and Padma Bhushan two years later.

The 74-year-old activist reiterated that he will sit in agitation at Jantar Mantar again and again "until the flood of good politics arrived".

On its part, the government said that the Prime Minister's Office had written two letters to Hazare on the prime minister's advice.

"What is stated in the letter is the government's position," P Chidambaram, former home minister and now finance minister, told reporters.