Ramdev back at Ramlila ground, on three-day fast (Second Lead)
August 9th, 2012 - 4:22 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) Back at the Ramlila Maidan, yoga guru Baba Ramdev Thursday announced a three-day fast against corruption and black money and said the government would have to give in to the demand for a stringent Lokpal bill.
Addressing thousands of supporters at the sprawling ground here, Ramdev said: “The fight for Lokpal is not over. A strong Lokpal will have to be given to the people of India.
“The Lokpal bill should not be the government’s version which will be weak,” he added.
“We will be holding a three-day symbolic fast as part of the first phase of our protest. If the government does not listen to our demands, I will announce our future strategy on Aug 12. We will not end our fast till our demands are met,” he said.
Ramdev said he was not against any political party and was not interested in dislodging anyone.
“My doors are open to all political parties. My doors are also open to Sonia Gandhi (Congress president). I am not here to dislodge anyone from power,” he said.
Holding tricolours, thousands of Ramdev supporters packed the Ramlila Maidan.
He appealed to them to take out peaceful yatras and candle marches all over the country.
Before coming to Ramlila ground, Ramdev paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh at Rajghat and Shaheedi Park respectively.
Delhi Police have given the organisers permission to host 30,000 people a day. The yoga guru has been allowed to hold the ground till Aug 30.
Thursday marks the 70th anniversary of the Quit India movement.
A similar show a year ago at the Ramlila grounds ended in violence and the death of a woman.
Six days ago, on Aug 3, Anna Hazare and his team members ended their fast for a stringent Jan Lokpal bill. Hazare disbanded Team Anna Aug 6.
- Ramdev begins three-day fast, warns of revolution (Third Lead) - Aug 09, 2012
- Ramdev returns to Ramlila Maidan for three-day fast (Roundup) - Aug 09, 2012
- Fight for Lokpal not over yet: Ramdev (Lead) - Aug 09, 2012
- Ramdev to continue fast, gives Monday deadline to PM (lead) - Aug 12, 2012
- Our strategy needs to change: Ramdev - Aug 11, 2012
- Congress shielding those with black money abroad, says Ramdev (Second Lead) - Aug 12, 2012
- Anna threatens another fast in August - Jun 08, 2011
- Hazare's agitation will benefit future generations: Ramdev - Aug 24, 2011
- Now, Ramdev caps, bands a hit at Ramlila ground - Aug 09, 2012
- Chronology of an epochal fast - Aug 28, 2011
- Ramdev to hold fast in Delhi from Aug 9 - Jul 24, 2012
- Baba Ramdev asks PM to act on black money (Roundup) - Aug 10, 2012
- Pranab Mukherjee to negotiate with Team Anna: Kejriwal - Aug 23, 2011
- Ramdev to continue fast, gives deadline to PM - Aug 12, 2012
- Ramdev begins anti-graft agitation at Ramlila Maidan - Aug 09, 2012
Tags: 70th anniversary, anna hazare, bhagat singh, black money, congress president, corruption, delhi police, future strategy, india movement, mahatma gandhi, marches, New Delhi, political parties, rajghat, ramlila, six days, sonia gandhi, team members, tributes, yoga guru