Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Thursday, Sep 05, 2002
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Thursday, Sep 05, 2002 |
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Variety
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People Magsaysay winner returns cash award Our Bureau
NEW DELHI, Sept. 4 TROUBLE seems to be following this Magsaysay award winner, first in Manila, and now in India. On his return from Manila, Mr Sandeep Pandey announced he had returned the $ 50,000 cheque - - which comes with the award - - to the Magsaysay Foundation following his participation in the anti-US protest and the subsequent criticism. "I have decided to decline the cash which comes along with the Magsaysay award, made available by the Ford Foundation," he said. Addressing a news conference here today, Mr Pandey said: "I took this decision because a section of the people in the Philippines had objections to my statement that the US was the biggest terrorist State. Incidentally, around the same time, Asian Peace Alliance had organised a protest at the US Embassy in Manila to protest against the US Government's policy of war against terrorism in which I also participated." Elaborating further, Mr Pandey said, "A section of the people felt that if I oppose the US Government and its policy, I should not accept any money from an American institution." "Besides, a Manila-based daily Today challenged me that if I was the principled activist that I would like people to believe, then I should leave behind the cheque with the US Embassy before my departure to India. Hence, I have returned the cheque to the Magsaysay Foundation," he said. "However, to avoid dishonouring the award and the people associated with it, I have not returned the award itself," Mr Pandey said. On the issue of summons being issued by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Kanpur, on the demand made by State Organising Secretary, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for booking Mr Pandey under POTA, Mr Prashant Bhushan, his counsel, said, "We will respond appropriately to the summon." The VHP has charged Mr Pandey with inciting communal hatred and defaming RAW. Commenting on the subject Mr Pandey said: "It is the sane common man of India who will decide who is anti-national."
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