German national, Friederike Irina Bruning, aka Sudevi Mataji/Dasi, on Saturday, had threatened to return her Padma Shri award after her application for visa extension was rejected by the Ministry of External Affairs.

On Sunday, speaking to India Today TV she said that she regretted her comments and that it was an emotional outburst. She does not intend to return her award.

When asked if she would return the Padma Shri, the 61-year-old animal rights activist said, "No question of that. I must have said that if you do not let me stay then what is the use of a Padma Shri. There was no need to give me this award. But it got escalated. I probably said it in a moment of emotional dejection and feeling hurt that the visa was rejected and not extended. I did not mean it. I am a bit embarrassed about it being published. I regret it. I wish I could have it undone."

Bruning was awarded India's fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri for work in helping abandoned cows and bovines. As the founder of Radha Surabhi Goshala in 1996, she tends to over 1,800 cows and calves. She has been doing it for the past 35 years. Most of the animals in the cowshed are rescued after being abandoned by their owners.

She came to India first as a tourist and then on student visa when she started working for cows in Vrindavan. She admits to the technical glitch in her visa application due to which it was rejected since there is no provision for a conversion of a student's visa into an employment visa.

"I was told that in my application I had applied for extension as well as conversion of a student's visa into a voluntary employment visa of my NGO since I am not studying anymore. So I thought the record should be corrected. But, it was legally not possible which I did not know. It was probably nobody's fault but my own. It could not have been done that is why it was rejected. That's how I understand it" said Bruning.

After the news of the rejection of her visa appeared in the media, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took note of the matter and had sought a report.

"Thanks for bringing this to my notice. I have asked for a report," tweeted Swaraj.

While Bruning applied for a fresh extension of her student's visa under the norms and procedures available, she has been told that she will be getting her visa soon.

Meanwhile, she took the opportunity to thank Sushma Swaraj for her prompt response to her story since all she wants to do is ensure she continues work here or else the cows she tends to would be abandoned yet again.

Her message to Swaraj was, "I am grateful to her. Would like to thank her personally. Would be glad if you could thank her. The cows would be grateful because their lives are going to be saved and I will be able to continue my work. God bless and the cows also bless her."