Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who was on a hunger strike since June 4 protesting against corruption, called off his fast Sunday following intervention by spiritual leaders. Here is a timeline:

* June 1: Ramdev lands in a private jet in Delhi. Four central ministers, led by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, rush to the airport to hold talks with him.

* June 2: Ramdev remains adamant on going ahead with a fast from June 4 at New Delhi’s Ramlila Ground.

* June 3: Senior union ministers make a last-ditch effort to persuade Ramdev to call off his proposed hunger strike: hold a meeting with him. The talks fail.

* June 4: Ramdev goes ahead with his hunger strike. Claims government agrees on his demand to get back black money stashed abroad, but wants a written assurance.

Minutes later, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal claims that Ramdev had promised a token strike and reveals a handwritten letter of his close aide.

* June 5: Hundreds of police personnel swoop on the protest venue early Sunday and remove Ramdev and his followers. Ramdev is taken to his ashram in Haridwar.

* June 6 and 7 - Ramdev continues fast in Haridwar.

* June 8: Hazare begins his fast at Rajghat against the police crackdown. Ramdev says he would arm his supporters if there was a repeat of the crackdown.

* June 9: Ramdev defends his statement of arming supporters, saying his statement was taken in the wrong context. He also clarified he was not training Maoists, but nationalists.

* June 10: The fast continues. Doctors monitoring him say Ramdev’s “weight loss” and “low pulse rate” were causing concern.

Ramdev rushed to a Dehradun hospital after his condition deteriorates. His close aides stress fast is on.

* June 11: Appeals are made by spiritual leaders to call off the strike.

* June 12: Ramdev calls off his hunger strike after spiritual and religious leaders, including Sri Sri Ravishankar, request him to do so. But he vows to fight corruption until his last breath.