Adamant Ramdev decides to continue decision to fast

[katharnak]

New Delhi, June 3: After the second round of talks between him and the government failed, yoga guru Baba Ramdev remained adamant on his fast, saying it will continue till all the demands are met.

"We will continue our fast till government agrees to all our demands. Crores of people are supporting my fast across India. The hunger strike is not against any political party. We will ensure that the movement remains peaceful and non-violent. The fast is for the sake of India," Ramdev told his followers at the Ram Lila Ground here.

"The talks with the government were positive, but many issues need to be resolved. The government will start engineering and medical courses in regional languages," he added.

Even as the government made a fresh attempt to pacify the yoga guru, no breakthrough was achieved in the second round of talks between senior ministers and Ramdev after a nearly five-hour long meeting that took place at the Claridges Hotel here.

"We don't believe these issues can be resolved in a day. We have responded positively to Ramdev's suggestions. Now, it's upto Swamiji to decide what is right," said Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal after the meeting.

Meanwhile, senior ministers in the cabinet are expected to brief the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Ramdev deadlock. A high-level meeting has been called at the 7RCR after the talks with Ramdev failed.

Baba Ramdev earlier in the day demanded that those involved in corruption cases should be tried in fast-track courts and should get death sentence if found guilty.

Addressing a gathering at Ram Lila Ground, Ramdev said: "Our courts have a backlog of 3.5 crore cases and corruption and black money cases are being heard by the same courts. We should have separate courts to deal with corruption cases and exemplary punishment should be meted to the culprits. They should be given death sentence. They should be hanged to death."

Terming people accused of corruption as traitors, Ramdev said that India could once again become a superpower if the Government tackles the problem on war footing.

"If the entire black money is brought back to the country, then poverty will be abolished. Indian currency will be stronger than the dollar and pound. India was once the leader in every sphere of the world," he added.

Expressing his heartfelt thanks to his supporters, who have come to participate in his satyagraha, Ramdev said: "The crusade against corruption has reached a decisive stage and the government cannot just sit idle on these matters."

He further said his movement is not politically motivated.

"It is not sponsored by an individual nor by any political party," he added

He further said that he would start his fast from 7 a.m. on Saturday.

Ramdev's planned agitation has ruffled feathers in the Central government. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh appealed to Baba Ramdev not to go on fast and sent senior Ministers, including Pranab Mukherjee to brief him on steps taken by the Government to combat corruption and bring back black money.

The support reportedly extended to Baba Ramdev by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha has sparked off criticism that his campaign is politically motivated.