Baba Ramdev is all set to begin his Campaign/ Fast against Black Money within few Minutes at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. 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.
Ramdev’s second round of protest will also witness an expansion of his agenda from blackmoney 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 June four last year ended in a midnight police crackdown on June six morning with authorities claiming that he violated the norms agreed upon. He was caught by police while trying to flee from the venue in woman’s attire.
The second indefinite protest, announced in June this year, 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 blackmoney, Lokpal Bill, appointment procedures and making CBI independent.
“All we are demanding is 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 earlier.
Hazare, who had earlier announced that he would join Ramdev at his protest, is unlikely to be present at the venue today 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 yesterday.
Last Sunday, his associates in erstwhile Team Anna said that they have not received any invite from Ramdev. A section in Team Anna had been uncomfortable with the alliance with Ramdev.
The yoga guru has said that Hazare has publicly said that he will come. On June three, Ramdev held a protest in Jantar Mantar which was attended by Hazare and his team.
Ramdev said, “Annaji has more than once publicly promised that he is joining me on August 9, so now it’s up to him to decide.” “We have appealed to every social, religious, political and spiritual organisation to join our movement. So anyone can come and join us tomorrow.”
Metal detectors have come up at entry and exit points to screen visitors, who are expected to flood the ground in the heart of the city.
Green colour carpets have been laid, tents and makeshift toilets have been set up. Colourful posters of the yoga guru have come up in and around the site.
According to another aide, SK Tijarawala, around 5,000 volunteers will work round the clock to ensure that nothing went amiss.
“Around 60 CCTV cameras will monitor the grounds. In addition, metal detectors and baggage scanners will be placed at all entry and exit points,” he said.