By IANS,
New Delhi : Baba Ramdev Saturday began his promised fast against corruption and black money with thousands joining him at the Ramlila Grounds here with support from large parts of the country.
“It is overwhelming to see the huge crowd that has gathered in support of our crusade against corruption. The journey is long and I request the supporters to stay calm,” Ramdev, who shot to fame through his yogic exercises beamed through TV channels, said to thunderous appaluse from the crowd as he began his hunger strike at 7 a.m.
Ramdev, undoubtly India’s most famous yoga teacher, is on “indefinite fast” demanding death penalty for corrupt officials and strongs steps by the government to bring back black money reportedly stashed away by rich Indians abroad.
“We are not going to bow down to any political party or conspiracy. It will be a peaceful protest,” Ramdev said.
A nervous government has had two rounds of talks with Ramdev to dissuade him from going on fast. But the guru refused.
Thousands thronged the sprawling grounds, venue of major political rallies in the last few decades, to join Ramdev in his protest fast.
Since early morning, the ground resembled a fair with men, women and children singing devotional and patriotic songs, holding banners and Ramdev’s portrait and shouting slogans against the government.
“I have come here to show that corruption is not just one man’s issue. It is the entire country’s concern whether Baba Ramdev does it, or Anna Hazare does it,” Ashok Chauhan, 42, an income tax officer from Jaipur, told IANS.
Another supporter, Suresh Tanwar from Haryana, said: “We will die, but not go away until the government takes a strong action against corruption. This is a mass movement that will not die down easily.”
Hundreds pledged solidarity with Ramdev across the country. People organised fast in Orissa, Agra, Lucknow and Bhopal. But there were no reports of support fasts from the south of the country.
The government, after failed round of talks with the yoga guru Saturday, adopted a “wait and watch policy”.
On Friday evening, when the second round of talks failed, the government found itself cornered and agreed to declare as “national asset” the black money stashed in foreign banks – a key demand he had raised.
Ramdev, whose daily yoga shows draw millions of viewers and who has even been gifted a Scottish island as a yoga retreat, had his share of critics.
Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh questioned his lavish lifestyle.
“Baba travels in a private jet, stays in a five-star luxury hotel, and has the money for such arrangements before going on a fast. This is surely a five-star satyagraha as you doubt his credibility,” he said said.
The guru’s fast comes nearly two months after activist Anna Hazare went on a similar campaign to pressurize the government for a stronger anti-graft Lokpal Bill.
The government buckled and formed a joint committee, with social activists and central ministers, to form a draft of the bill.
Gandhian Anna Hazare, who had earlier said that he would join Ramdev in his stir, said he was yet to decide if he would join him.