Ramdev ends fast, calls for defeat of Cong in next polls

PTI

New Delhi, 14 Aug 2012: Yoga guru Ramdev today broke his six-day fast and a distinctly anti-Congress protest on the blackmoney issue by calling for defeat of the Congress in the next elections.

 

"The result of any protest is not determined by the government but by the people. I am happy that over 400 MPs in Parliament supported our demands. This government has cheated the people and Parliament," Ramdev said breaking his fast at the Ambedkar Stadium here.

 

 

"Congress hatao, desh bachao (Remove Congress, save the country)," he said in his speech lasting an hour and added that except Congress all parties are together on the issue of black money.

 

After spending the night with hundreds of supporters at the Ambedkar Stadium even after their release, Ramdev broke his fast by sipping a glass of juice offered by a boy and a girl.

 

Ending the protest, he headed for his ashram in Haridwar while the supporters dispersed giving relief to authorities planning for tomorrow’s Independence Day celebrations.

 

Charging the UPA government with failing to bring back black money, he said the government would have lost if there was any voting on the issue in Parliament.

 

"If there was voting in Parliament on blackmoney, the government would have lost it. If Mulayam Singh and Mayawati withdraw support, the government will fall in one day," he said, adding it has no right to continue.

 

"We are not leaving this place defeated but we are going as victorious. We have made all parties come together (on the issue of black money). We have not targeted or tarnished Congress. It was their own doing.

 

"The government said they have brought out a White Paper but what they have brought out is a false paper," Ramdev said.

 

Attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Ramdev asked him to show "political will and honesty" in brining back black money stashed abroad.

 

"He (Singh) should show political will and honesty and if he does not show it, he will be deemed as corrupt. If he can’t remain politically honest then he should leave the post," Ramdev said.

 

The yoga guru also said that if he had wanted he could have stopped the Prime Minister from hoisting the national flag tomorrow but added that it was not the "right thing" to do.

 

Holding the Congress responsible for price rise and poverty, he asked people not to vote for the party in the next Lok Sabha polls.

 

"We have decided not to vote for Congress. The party has made us poor and put us in poverty. You have to tell people that it is Congress which has pushed you to poverty and is responsible for price rise.

 

"Next time in the elections, we should ensure that not a single Congress leader gets elected to Parliament. Who to vote for? We will tell you later. We have to vote for those who will bring back black money stashed abroad," he said, adding the fast has just been suspended and the fight on the issue will continue.

 

Ramdev held an early morning strategy session with his close aides to fine tune the future course of his protest.

 

He had last night rejected an appeal by police to vacate the stadium flagging concerns ahead of Independence Day as the facility was near Red Fort where the national celebrations will take place tomorrow.

 

The yoga guru was arrested during a march to Parliament but late in the night he refused to quit the stadium from where he and his few thousand supporters were released.