Author: Press Trust of India
Publication: NDTV.com
Date: May 4, 2011
URL: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/now-ramdev-on-fast-track-against-corruption-103386?pfrom=home-India
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev today 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 R
s. 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."