Ramdev supporters in US condemn police crackdown

Washington, Jun 5 (PTI) Supporters of Baba Ramdev in
the US Sunday condemned the police crackdown on his fast
against corruption in New Delhi, claiming that it was an act
of treachery against the yoga guru and his followers.
A large number of Indian Americans, who gathered in
more than two dozen cities across the US Saturday to show
solidarity with his movement back home, became agitated
following the news of the crackdown.
"The Indian diaspora condemns it. We urge everybody to
join in the movement to restore democracy and civility in
India," said Bhishma Agnihotri, the former Indian
Ambassador-at-Large, for NRIs & PIOs, at a meeting in Houston.
Referring to the turn of events at the Ramlila Maidan
last night, Agnihotri, president of the of Bharat Swabhiman
Overseas, said: "It was an act of treachery upon Baba Ramdev
and his followers, who had come to present their demands
against rampant corruption in India."
"We, the people of Indian-origin all over the world
are deeply depressed, embarrassed and pained by this vulgar
display of naked power. No justification of any kind can
condone these vicious actions," Agnihotri said.
"It is outrages that the Congress government is coming
down on the peaceful protesters against corruption. This is
reminding the 1975 emergency when the civil rights were
denied," said Khande Rao Kand, an Indian-American technocrat
in the Silicon valley who attended an event in support of the
yoga guru at Freemont California.
In nearly two dozen cities across the US, including
Chicago, Boston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, the
events featured fasting, yoga camp, panel discussion.
At many places, people were glued to the Aastha
Channel which was broadcasting Live from Delhi and recorded
messages of Baba Ramdev.
In Chicago, Gayatri Shakti Peeth held a panel
discussion on the Lokpal Bill, how NRIs could help to
eradicate corruption and raise the standard of living in India
was held.
Americans as well as people from Kenya joined the
event in Boston to support Baba Ramdev's fast against
corruption.

"Despite recent economic development, scams and
corruption at every level is rampant everywhere and is
plaguing the society. Baba Ramdev's efforts to educate the
masses and his crusade against corruption and black money is
seen as a ray of hope," said Ajay Verma, coordinator of the
event.
Expressing disappointment at police action, Verma
said that it was hard to understand why the authorities did
so.
"If somebody is doing something for the good of
society, what is wrong in that. We will keep on supporting
such movements, no matter who does it," he said.
At the popular Durga Temple in Fairfax, Virginia, a
suburb of Washington, community leader Satish Mishra,
president of Federation of Indian American Associations –
National Capital Region (FIA-NCR), made a power point
presentation on why there is a greater need today to support
this movement.