oga guru Baba Ramdev on Wednesday said he would undertake a fast unto death in New Delhi on June 4 to demand recovery of black money deposited by Indians in Swiss banks, disclosure of account-holders' names and a ban on high-denomination currency notes.
The satyagraha will be held at Ramlila Maidan "to force the Government to act on corruption-related issues," Ramdev told reporters here.
"Along with me, several supporters spread across the world will also fast during the satyagraha," he said.
"The Centre has not taken any concrete decision on the issue of black money. The fight against corruption will continue till it is not rooted out," he said.
A strong Lokpal law should be enacted by August 2011, Ramdev said. The Lokpal panel should have the power to recover money swindled by the corrupt and punish them with death sentence, he said.
Ramdev also demanded declaration of illegal wealth held by Indians in foreign countries, ratification of the UN Convention against Corruption and ban on all high-denomination currency notes such as Rs 1,000 and Rs 500.
In this 'Satyagraha against Corruption' movement, Ramdev has invited social activist Anna Hazare, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi and Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde.
However, Ramdev said though he appreciated efforts of eminent lawyer Shanti Bhushan and his son Prashant regarding Lokpal Bill, they had not been invited to join him.
"The fight against corruption will never be easy. Fingers will be pointed at everyone and there could be a conspiracy against those who are a part of this movement," he said, adding he will write a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issues relating to corruption.
Asked if he was delinking himself from Hazare's movement by announcing his own satyagraha, Ramdev said, "Annaji's agitation was on the single issue of Lokpal Bill. We have to take the agitation to the next level."
Ramdev, however, clarified he had no intention to enter politics. "I do not have any ambition to be a politician. I will never actively participate in politics."
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Duplicating the act of Anna Hazare is of no help. Most demands of Baba Ramdev are okay. Black money should be unearthed and taxed. Money in swiss banks should be brought to Inida. Cash transactions should be discouraged. Hunger strike to highlighttese demands may be okay. But fast unto death is an attempt to suicide and unlawful. Baba Ramdev should desist from such practice.
G. K. Ajmani Tax consultant http://gkajmani-mystraythoughts.blogspot.com/
Baba Ramdev should have thought for some other stunt rather than what Hazare did...It would have bought an uniqueness in his effort and in his motive. Though the motive behind this is good but I don't think it would be OK to do what Anna did...
NowBaba Ramdev is going to begin Fast Hazare style in Delhi against black money and corruption. Hazare may also back him. The efforts of ministers to please Swami by giving him VIP treatment apparently failed. More talk likely. There is division in UPA over giving VIP treatment to the Swami
Incidentally, Congress Generaql Secretary says that Ramdev is not a 'saint' but an entrepreneur. But what matters if he is 'saint'. We certainly do not want Rasputins. We need to fight corruption and other ills but this must be democratically and not bygiving authority to extra parliamentary forces like Hazare and may be next Ramdev.
