Noted Marathi writer Pradnya Pawar on Tuesday said she was returning all her literary awards and prize money totaling Rs 1.13 lakh to the state government to protest the 'culture of intolerance' in the country on Tuesday.

Pawar cited Dadri lynching and killing of rationalists Dabholkar, Pansare and Kalburgi as instances that show 'growing intolerance'. "I have taken the decision to protest against the intolerant attitude and 'dandelashahi' (dictatorship) in the country in the last one, one-and-half years," she told media.