Indian-Americans hold meetings, fast in support of Baba Ramdev

From Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jun 4 (PTI) Hundreds of Indian-Americans
in cities across the United States Saturday started meetings
and observed fast in support of the anti-corruption crusade
launched by yoga guru Baba Ramdev in New Delhi.
Baba Ramdev solidarity meetings are being held in some
two dozen cities across the US, according to latest news
reports coming from the organizers, Bharat Swabhiman Overseas
(BSO), a US-based organization which supports the ideology and
goal of the Indian guru.
"The purpose is to support the great movement which is
going on in India this time against corruption," said Dr
Bhishma Agnihotri, the former Ambassador-at-Large of India.
Brushing aside government's persuasion, 46-year-old
Ramdev began his indefinite hunger strike at New Delhi's
Ramlila Maidan demanding repatriation of black money stashed
away abroad as thousands of followers joined him in the
protest across India.
President of BSO, Agnihotri Saturday travelled from
Batan Rouge in Louisiana to Huston in Texas to attend the main
event.
In Fairfax, Virginia, a suburb of Washington several
hundred people are expected to gather late in the afternoon to
listen to the video message of Ramdev.
"People would listen to his message in the fight
against corruption," said Shardanand, one of the organizers.
"Purpose is to tell that we people living in the US
have equal stake in what is going inside India. We are
embarrassed by what is going on in India," Agnihotri said.
"Now, the corruption has gone beyond control," he
underlined, adding that more and more Indian-Americans are
joining this movement against corruption in India. While yoga is the hallmark of all these meetings
across the US, besides giving speeches and listening to the
video message of Ramdev, people also held devotional programme
and fasting during the day in Ramdev's support.
In California, nearly dozen organizations announced to
hold a meeting in Fremont to show solidarity with Ramdev's
anti-corruption movement.
Many of them announced that they would hold fast.
Every one registering for the event would receive yoga DVD of
Ramdev.
Similar meetings and fast are being planned in
Washington, New York, Houston, Tampa, New Jersey and Los
Angeles.
"The issues of Black money, corruption and fast
justice against corruption, the legacy of unjust laws,
economic and education system left over from the British Raj
even after 63 years of independence taken by Swamiji are of
utmost importance to Bharat," said Ramesh Bhutada, a
Houston-based businessman and trustee for Patanjali Yogpeeth
(USA).
"Resolution of these issues will make India shine all
over the world and in a true sense will be even able to guide
the world in the coming decades," he underlined.
"Not only we but our children and grandchildren will
be proud of our mother country and will be interested in
imbibing the best in our culture and heritage," Bhutada said
in a statement.