Baba Ramdev vs Govt: Fast ends, agitation to continue

Former Karnataka Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde, who was closely associated with now disbanded Team Anna, feels Baba Ramdev's agitation on black money and graft issues may re-energise the anti-corruption movement and says it might cause electoral damage to the Congress.

Baba Ramdev ends fast with juice, attack on Congress and PM
Yoga icon Baba Ramdev left Delhi very much on his own terms this afternoon after keeping the police waiting overnight, winning the endorsement of all political parties except the Congress, and serving notice to the Prime Minister and his party about his plans to ensure they lose the next election.

Baba Ramdev has left the Ambedkar Stadium. He is reportedly headed to the airport with a police escort.

After ending his fast, Baba Ramdev will go to Haridwar. Officials from the Delhi Police will escort him to Uttar Pradesh border.

Baba Ramdev ends fast with a glass of juice given to him by two children.

Baba Ramdev speaks:

• The people are the real strength of a revolution.
• This Central government has lost the confidence of the people
• Mulayam Singh, Mayawati, NCP have supported my campaign against black money. Take these parties out and the government will collapse.
• If there would have been a vote on black money yesterday in parliament, this govt would have to go yesterday itself
• Mr Prime Minister, tomorrow is Independence Day. If you don't speak on black money and corruption, then you are as guilty as those who are corrupt.
• We are leaving not because we have lost, but because we have won
• We are not beggars, we are asking for the rights of our country. And if we don't get it, we will fight for it
• We haven't asked for a separate country, we haven't even asked for a village like the Pandavas. We have just asked for our rights
• If we'd wanted we could have stopped the Prime Minister from hoisting the flag on Independence Day.
• The Congress has written its name on the top of the list of corrupt
• Take an oath from here and go that no member of this corrupt party should be in the government. "Congress hatao, desh bachao."
• Home Ministers are very nice but the 'maalkin' sitting above them, she keeps making them say something or the other.
• We will vacate the stadium, leave for Haridwar and take a dip in the Ganga
• We will keep fighting. I thank all our supporters and workers present here
  

Ram Jethmalani speaks:

• Swami Ramdev is my partner in searching for people involved in black money and corruption
• He is working for the people of this country
• I have forgotten my surya namaskar these days, this is my surya namaskar now
• I want that surya which shines light on the dark areas of this country and helps remove poverty and corruption

A Delhi Police officer is on stage with Baba Ramdev. He has requested the gathered crowds to leave the stadium, citing security concerns in view of Independence Day tomorrow.

Baba Ramdev is seen speaking to his followers at the Ambedkar stadium. Senior lawyer and Rajya Sabha BJP MP Ram Jethmalani are on stage with Baba Ramdev.

In less than an hour, Baba Ramdev will announce his new strategy. Here's the story so far:

1. Baba Ramdev has reportedly promised the Delhi Police that he will leave the Ambedkar stadium and head to Haridwar soon after he ends his six-day fast this morning. The yoga guru and about 5000 supporters defied a police request and spent the night at the stadium.

2. There were reports earlier that the Baba might refuse to budge yet as he wanted to hoist the national flag at the Ambedkar stadium tomorrow.

3. The government, sources say, has decided to just not get provoked by Baba Ramdev's moves, including the refusal so far to leave the Ambedkar stadium. They have been counting on his supporters getting tired and on the fact that access to food, water and toilets is a problem at the stadium.

4. The Delhi Police is treading cautiously. It has instructions not to let a repeat of the midnight swoop fiasco of June last year or even the botched-up Anna Hazare arrest episode of August 2011 happen.

5. The Delhi administration is nervous because the Ambedkar stadium in Central Delhi is in a high security zone of the capital and with Independence Day less than 24 hours away, the safety of the thousands of supporters who have assembled in support of Baba Ramdev has become a big concern.

6. While Baba Ramdev campaigns against black money, income tax officials are scrutinizing the financial details of the Patanjali Yoga Trust and Divya Yog Mandir Trust he runs, for alleged tax evasion.

7. Politicians came out in support of Baba Ramdev yesterday, isolating the Congress. At his camp in the morning, BJP president Nitin Gadkari and Sharad Yadav provided a VIP touch. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also lent his considerable credibility to the Baba's cause. Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati, leaders of the two major parties in Uttar Pradesh, both said the issue of black money is worth attention and scrutiny.

8. Along with the major political leaders, Arvind Kejriwal of the recently disbanded Team Anna also showed his support. He tweeted, "We support Swami Ramdev's agitation and issues raised by him. Urge people to support his cause.They r neck deep in corruption n their support is mere opportunism (sic)."

9. Yesterday, Baba Ramdev and thousands of his supporters were detained when they tried to march to Parliament. They were brought to Ambedkar stadium; they were released by the Delhi Police at 7.50 pm, but they refused to leave stadium. "Will we go?" asked Baba Ramdev. "No," they shouted back. Baba Ramdev demanded that the government must provide food and water to everyone inside the stadium as it was a "temporary jail".

10. Last year, Baba Ramdev's camp at Ramlila Maidan was packed to capacity, when the police charged in at midnight to force the camp to disband. Many people were injured. The Supreme Court blamed both the Delhi Police and the charismatic guru for risking the safety of thousands.

Baba Ramdev has assured the security agencies that he and his supporters will leave the Ambedkar Stadium soon. This will come as a huge relief for the Delhi Police. The Ambedkar Stadium, in Central Delhi, is in the high security zone of the capital and with Independence Day less than 24 hours away, safety of the thousands of supporters, who have assembled in support of Baba Ramdev, had become a big concern for the authorities.

Baba Ramdev to end his fast at 11 am; sources say he may leave for Haridwar after breaking his fast.

A supporter a Baba Ramdev cap at the Ambedkar Stadium on Tuesday morning

Next big movement before Lok Sabha elections: Baba Ramdev
Sources say the yoga guru wants to keep up pressure on the government and that the next big movement will be announced before next year's Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, the BJP is likely to raise the issue of black money in Parliament today.

Baba Ramdev's announcement is expected around 11 am today.

After defying the request of the Delhi Police and spending the night at Delhi's Ambedkar Stadium, Baba Ramdev will monitor today's proceedings in Parliament closely and then announce his strategy, say sources.

NEWS UPDATE
Police sources to NDTV:  Baba Ramdev and 5000 supporters to spend the night in Ambedkar Stadium. They will not be asked to move before morning.

Baba Ramdev, supporters to stay at the Ambedkar stadium.
Baba Ramdev says 'No question of vacating stadium tonight. We will reveal our strategy tomorrow.'

Baba Ramdev Arrested, Released and still at Ambedkar Stadium
The  story so far...

1. Baba Ramdev who was released by the Delhi Police at 7:50  this evening, refused to leave Ambedkar Stadium, which had been turned into a holding pen of sorts for the yoga guru and his supporters. At 7.30 pm, there were over 8000 people there.  The police told them they were all free to leave. "Will we go?" asked Baba Ramdev. "No,"they shouted back.  Baba Ramdev demanded that the government must provide food and water to everyone inside the stadium as it was a 'temporary jail'.

2. Baba Ramdev was arrested at  around 2 pm while  marching to Parliament. He , and 300 of his supporters, were stopped at the Ranjit Singh flyover, half a kilometre from Ramlila Maidan, where the yoga guru had been on a hunger strike for five days.

3. "Congress hatao, desh bachao (remove the Congress Party and save the nation)," he said at the start of his "protest" walk in the afternoon with thousands of supporters as opposition political leadership rushed to be seen near him. "There is a Gangotri (fount) of corruption flowing through that one party," he said on top of his bus to NDTV. "We will make sure they lose." 

4. Political support was offered at his camp this morning by BJP president Nitin Gadkari, and Sharad Yadav of the JD(U). Both pledged their parties' support to the yoga icon. The BJP also protested against black money in Parliament today, resulting in the adjournment of the Lok Sabha.

5. The Congress spokesman called the rally "a political stunt". The Congress spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi said the Finance Minister has already explained in Parliament how the government plans to combat black money.

6. It took the police five hours to move Baba Ramdev through the 3-4 kilometres from the flyover where he was arrested to Ambedkar Stadium in central Delhi.

7. Baba Ramdev had not sought police permission to march towards Parliament. He had been authorised only to hold a large sit-in at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan.

8. When he started that camp five days ago, he declared he would not target a political party or personality. That changed dramatically today. He called for the dismissal of the Congress-led government for its alleged inability and disinterest in recovering crores of black money.

9. Baba Ramdev has been demanding a robust ombudsman law to keep checks on government, a strong and independent Central Bureau of Investigation and efforts to act against tax evasion and illegal money sent to banks abroad.

10. Last year, Ramlila Maidan was packed to capacity, when the police charged in at midnight to force the camp to disband. Many people were injured. The Supreme Court blamed both the Delhi Police and the charismatic guru for risking the safety of thousands.