Medha Patkar refuses state honour by Karnataka govt

MUMBAI: Social activist Medha Patkar has refused to accept the Karnataka government's Basava Puraskara, due to the southern state's non action in investigating the mining scam and anti poor policies of the state.

The Basava award is named after the 12 ^thcentury poet Basaveshwara who advocated communal harmony and social reform. The award which was constituted in 2001 is presented to individuals for similar values of the poet.

"The Lokayukta controversy is not yet over and there are disagreements with people's movements on certain policies related to farmers, workers, unorganised sector workers, slum dwellers and government's attempt at privatisation and corporatisation of scarce natural resources - land, water, forests and minerals.

I, therefore, would like to state with humility my inability to accept the award which you may be free to give to any other deserving activist. "said Medha Patkar at a public meeting in Belgaum, Karnataka.