Ramdev launches indefinite fast against corruption

New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) Brushing aside government's
persuasion, Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev Saturday began his
indefinite hunger strike demanding repatriation of black money
stashed away abroad as thousands of followers joined him in
the protest here and elsewhere in the country.
After a two-hour yoga practice and 'bhajan' session
that started early in the morning, Ramdev began the protest
along with thousands of his followers at the Ramlila Maidan
where he was joined by Sangh Parivar's firebrand leader Sadhvi
Ritambhara and leaders from Sikh, Jain and Muslim communities.
Before launching the fast, Ramdev told his cheering
supporters during the yoga session that the protest was
intended to save the country from corruption and ensure that
the poor get a good life.
"Nothing is impossible, everything is possible and we
are not going to be defeated," the saffron-robed Baba seated
on an elevated platform on the dais, told the gathering,
referring to bringing back of black money stashed in tax
havens abroad.
Sources said that backchannel talks were on between
the government and Ramdev's side but there were no signs of
any scheduled dialogue between the ministers and the yoga
guru.
46-year-old Ramdev, who shot into prominence a few
years ago with his mass yoga teaching sessions, spurned the
government's last-minute overtures to go ahead with the fast.
After five hours of negotiations between two senior
ministers Kapil Sibal and Subodh Kant Sayay with Ramdev and
his associates, the government had offered to consider
declaring illegal wealth as national assets, amend laws to
confiscate such ill-gotten wealth and substantially increase
the punishment for corrupt people after a committee goes into
these issues in six months.
Ramdev arrived at the dais at around 0450 (IST) hrs to
a huge round of applause from his followers who thronged the
protest venue despite sweltering heat.
During the early morning yoga session, Ramdev alleged
there was a conspiracy against him to ensure that he does not
go ahead with his protest fast but said it had "failed".
"I will certainly not talk about all issues today,
there was a conspiracy but it has failed. What was the
conspiracy, I will not say today. When the right time comes, I
will say," Ramdev said.
"What will India get from this protest? India will be
saved now... People will get an opportunity for the first time
that in all government professional colleges one can carry on
the studies in his mother tongue," he said.
Tens of thousands of Ramdev's followers also went on
hunger strike in Mumbai, Jammu and some other cities in
solidarity with him.
Devotional and patriotic songs reverberated across the
Ramilal Grounds as Ramdev's discourse was laced with humour
and demonstration of 'asanas'.
It was virtually a one-man show by Ramdev who
continuously addressed the gathering and was followed by
Sadhvi Ridambhara who lavished praise on the Baba saying "if
there were more Vallabbhai Patels, then there was no need for
a The crowd cheered Ramdev whenever he spoke about
bringing back black money, declaring it as a national asset
and other issues of corruption. A number of Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharaks in their uniforms were also
seen at the site, keenly listening to the discourse.
Ramdev was at his humorous best while making his
followers understand that the hunger strike will help them in
two ways.
"Hamare mote bhai aur moti baheno ke liye yeh
satyagraha health benefits laega aur desh ke liye wealth mil
jayega. (While this hunger strike will bring health benefits
to obese people, it will also help bring wealth to the
nation)," he said.
When a follower gave him a Rs 11-lakh cheque, the Baba
joked, "Take the photos, this is not black money."
A large number of security personnel, including women
from Rapid Action Force, were deployed at the protest site to
ensure no untoward incident takes place. A manual frisking is
also being carried out at the entrance.sanyasi to sit on satyagraha."