Ramdev all set for second round of protest

New Delhi, Aug 8: Fourteen months after he was bundled out of Ramlila Maidan here in a midnight police swoop, yoga guru

will return to the same venue tomorrow for another round of indefinite protest demanding bringing back

stashed abroad.

Ramdev's second round of protest will also witness an expansion of his agenda from blackmoney to Lokpal Bill, making CBI independent and a more transparent procedure for appointing Election Commissioners, CAG, CVC and CBI Director.

Ramdev's previous protest in Ramlila Maidan from June four last year ended in a midnight police crackdown on June six morning with authorities claiming that he violated the norms agreed upon. He was caught by police while trying to flee from the venue in women's attire.

The second indefinite protest, announced in June this year, also will be keenly watched as it comes a week after Anna Hazare called off his fast, disbanded his team which has decided to take a political plunge.

On his part, Ramdev has said he has no political agenda and the second phase of his protest will be announced if the government does not agree to his demands on blackmoney, Lokpal Bill, appointment procedures and making CBI independent.

"All we are demanding is constitution of a strong Lokpal to end corruption. Lokpal alone cannot eradicate corruption but it is required to punish the corrupt."

"Besides, the process of appointing heads of CBI, CVC, CAG and CEC should be streamlined and no political influence allowed in it. If this is done, 90 per cent corruption will be checked," Ramdev had said yesterday.

Hazare, who had earlier announced that he would join Ramdev at his protest, is unlikely to be present at the venue tomorrow with one of his close aides saying that "as of now there are no plans" to come to Delhi soon.

"As of now, there are no plans to come to Delhi. For tomorrow, there are no plans. Yet to be decided (when to come to Delhi)," Hazare's close aide said.

Last Sunday, his associates in erstwhile Team Anna said that they have not received any invite from Ramdev. A section in Team Anna had been uncomfortable with the alliance with Ramdev.

The yoga guru has said that Hazare has publicly said that he will come.

On Jun 3, Ramdev held a protest in Jantar Mantar which was attended by Hazare and his team.

PTI