Baba Ramdev holds meeting with close associates on agitation

New Delhi, Jun 2: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev today (June 2) held a meeting with his close associates here to finalise the strategy ahead of his proposed June 4 hunger strike on black money issue and talks with the government which wants him to call off the agitation.

Ramdev, who flew into the capital in a chartered jet from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, discussed with his close aides on how to go about the issues during the next round of deliberations with the government, sources close to him said.

A day after the government virtually rolled out a red carpet to him by sending four senior ministers to receive him at the airport here, the yoga guru maintained that he will go ahead with the protest from June four at Ramlila Maidan.

Ramdev said he has spoken to the government and now he will interact with the people on the issues he was raising. He also said he could go ahead with talks with the government during his protest.

"Tell me which demand I raised is unreasonable. Seeking gallows for those who committed corruption to the tune of Rs 10 crore, Rs 50 crore, Rs 1,000 crore or Rs one lakh crore?" he said.

Asked about his earlier remarks that there would be a change in 2014, he said such a change will take place this year itself but hastened to add that his protest was not aimed at achieving any political goal.

"My protest is not against any political party. It is for a change in the system. Whichever party may rule, what we need is a system which demands answer and take action against those who cheat and loot the country," he said.

He said he has no difference of opinion with Anna Hazare, who has said that he will be joining him at the protest site on Sunday. Hazare has decided to cut short his visit to Kochi and join the yoga guru at Ramlila grounds.

PTI