Indian yoga guru on fast unto death

File photo of Indian yoga guru Swami Ramdev gestures as he teaches breathing exercises during a open air yoga camp in Kolkata. Ramdev, a bare-chested guru who wears a saffron wraparound and shawl, is the rage in many parts of India and claims to cure illnesses through breathing exercises and traditional medicines. (REUTERS)

Published Tuesday, May 31, 2011

By Staff

Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who was actively involved in social activist Anna Hazare’s anti-graft movement, will go on a fast unto death from Tuesday in New Delhi as part of his campaign – satyagraha (civil resistance) against corruption. The sit-in will be held at the Indian capital’s Ramlila Maidan to force the government to act on corruption-related issues.

He plans to continue his fast till the government accepts his three demands – recover black money stashed away in foreign banks by Indian politicians and businessmen and declare it as public property, ban high-denomination currency notes in the country as it leads to high-level corruption, and award death sentence to the corrupt.

Ramdev claimed his supporters from India and abroad will join him in his fast in New Delhi. He is likely to be joined by Hazare, former police officer Kiran Bedi and Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde in this movement.

When asked what made him start a separate campaign, he said, “Corruption and black money is a big issue and we need to do a lot to get rid of it. Members of Anna’s movement will also support this movement.”

Ramdev, however, said he had no intention to enter politics. “I do not have any ambition to be a politician. I will never actively participate in politics.”

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The page was last updated on: 10 January 2016 09:27