Black Money: Ramdev's indefinite protest begins in Delhi

New

, Aug 9: The second round of indefinite

by yoga guru Baba

began on Thursday, Aug 9. Thousands of his followers gathered at the protest venue, Ramlila Maidan in the early morning.

Ramdev is expected to reach Ramlila Maidan around 10 am. According to sources, the yoga guru will resume the agitation only after visiting the Shaheedi Part and Rajghat in the national capital. Ramdev has not yet declared whether he will observe indefinite fast or it will be just an agitation.

His earlier fast at the same place ended with a shocking midnight crackdown by Delhi police. After 14 months of that horrified night, Ramdev once again began his protest at the same place and for the same cause - bringing back black money stashed abroad.

Ramdev's second round of protest will also witness an expansion of his agenda from black money 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 Jun 4, 2011 ended in a midnight police crackdown on Jun 6 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 Jun 2012, 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 black money, Lokpal Bill, appointment procedures and making CBI independent.

"All we are demanding is the 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 on Wednesday.

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.

OneIndia News
(With agency inputs)