PM must keep cabinet clean : Ramdev,as he sits on fast with Hazare

Mangalore Today/ CNN-IBN

New Delhi, June 3: Launching a joint agitation against corruption and blackmoney, yoga guru Ramdev and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare started a day-long fast at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Sunday.

In his first public speech of the day, Ramdev targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying he should first make his Cabinet corruption free.

 

 

"Manmohan Singh was forced to give statement on illegal mining. We all know that the prime minister is a honest person and we all respect him. But people expect him to make his Cabinet corruption free," Ramdev said.

He demanded that the government disclose the amount of black money in foreign accounts. Ramdev termed their anti-corruption agitation as "the second struggle for independence". Starting his speech with slogans like "Vande Mataram", "Bharat Mata ki Jai", he said common people are above elected representatives. "The elected representatives say they are above all, but the constitution of India says people are above all," he said.

On the issue of Naxals, he said, "I do not support the Naxals but their war is legitimate, their demands are justified."

Team Anna member Santosh Hedge, who was not present at the fast venue, said, "I have to go to Delhi today. My full support is with them. Anna and Ramdev have joined hands. Together this moment will go far ahead. I have no doubt that any political party will have to pass a strong Lokpal Bill. Political parties will not form institution against themselves."

The fast has been called to mark one year of Ramdev’s last agitation at Ramlila ground, from where he was arrested in the middle of the night between June 3 and 4 last year.

Earlier, Anna and Ramdev visited the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Ramdev reached the samadhi along with a number of his supporters after taking out a march from the Delhi borders while Anna went there from Maharashtra Sadan where he was staying.

Before beginning their journey to Rajghat, Ramdev and his close aide Acharya Balkrishna went to Azad Hind Gram on Ttikrikalan on Delhi border and paid tributes to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Anna was accompanied by Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi.

Both Anna Hazare and Ramdev spent some time meditating at Rajghat. Ramdev also went to the nearby Shahid Park. The protest at Jantar Mantar is likely to see Anna and Ramdev announcing their strategy for the 2014 General Elections.

The one-day fast demanding bringing back blackmoney stashed abroad and against the corruption and corrupt system will have its echo in the state capitals as well with Ramdev’s Bharat Swabhiman Andolan organising protests.

This is the first time that Ramdev and Anna are sitting on a joint fast. From Team Anna, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Manish Sisodia will join Hazare and Ramdev in the day-long fast.

This is also their first joint appearance on a public platform in the past one year after the team distanced themselves from the yoga guru due to his Hindutva links.

"The people are with us. They will leave their homes and face the hot weather to support us. The agitation will start at 10 am all across the country and end at 6 pm. Government will have to bow down before the people," Ramdev said. "Ramdev is fighting against corruption. To make India corruption free, we have to fight together," Anna told reporters.

The day-long fast coincides with completion of one year of police action against Ramdev’s agitation when he was forcibly removed from Ramlila Maidan and which had brought much criticism to the UPA.

The association with Ramdev had in the past created ripples in Team Anna with a section remaining opposed to have any truck with the yoga guru as he is facing corruption charges.

The fast comes in the wake of fresh corruption allegations made by Team Anna against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and 14 of his Cabinet ministers. Team Anna alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks to public and private companies. It has also questioned the role of Manmohan Singh in the suspected scam. The Prime Minister held the coal portfolio from November 2006 to May 2009.