Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev today announced before the media that he will start his agitation against black money from 9 August in Delhi, saying that he expects a huge crowd, ‘at least 10,000 people’ at the Ramlila Maidan, where he plans to hold an indefinite fast.
Conducting a lengthy press conference, Ramdev said he believed that the lokpal would solve most of India’s corruption. “If we have Lokpal, 90 percent of the poverty will be removed from our country,” he said. However, he maintained that the lokpal by itself would not solve all issues.
Ramdev went on to slam the government, saying the country didnt’t have strong laws or a strong Prime Minister.
Reuters
“2G scam, CWG scam, Adarsh scam–there’s a long list of scam on government’s notebook. From peons to bureaucrats–everybody wants money. We have to make sure they don’t continue this anymore.”
On being asked about Team Anna‘s political agenda, Ramdev said, “I would not like to comment on this issue.” He then said since there’s no Team Anna anymore, it’s better to talk about Anna Hazare and not his team.
After Team Anna announced that it would provide a political alternative to people, Anna Hazare wrote in his blog that the team would no longer exist and would not negotiate with the government anymore.
Ramdev also said that unlike Kejriwal and others, he would never become a political leader. “I will never take the political path. I have never been a part of part of Team Anna,” he said.
But Ramdev said he still expected support from Anna himself, saying, “Anna Hazare will always be there. He will be there with me during my agitation. We will work together to bring Lokpal.”
Ramdev said his agitation would draw a large crowd. “Though the fast begins from 9th, people will start coming to the grounds from today itself.” He said the agitation is needed as they have to constantly beg before the government for strong laws. “It’s worse now. We didn’t even have to beg when the British ruled us.”
Echoing Anna’s sentiments, Ramdev said he lives a simple life and wants to work for the people. “This fight will be for complete independence,” he said.
