New Delhi, Sep 3: Yoga guru Ramdev today cast doubts on the government's assurances to Anna Hazare on the Lokpal issue which led to the breaking of his 12-day fast at Ramlila Maidan, saying the Gandhian had once again been cheated by those in power.
“Tell me one thing, which demand of Anna Hazare has been accepted by the government?... Earlier he was betrayed and now too he has been betayed,” Ramdev quipped.
“Hazare had demanded to bring Prime Minister, judiciary and Members of Parliament in the ambit of Lokpal... Hazare termed the achievement as half victory but I would say this is just the first step towards victory,” he said addressing a press conference here to announce his second round of yatra against black money, which he will be starting from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh from September 20.
On whether Hazare should have continued his fast, Ramdev evaded a direct reply but expressed his support for a strong Lokpal Bill.
“I can not disrespect Hazare's decision (to end his fast), but whatever happened (Sense of the House) is now in front of the nation. The proposal is now with the Standing Committee (of Parliament). I hope something good will come out of it,” he said.
“We will begin second round of our movement to bring back black money stashed in foreign banks from September 20 in Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. The Yatra will go to all neighbouring cities and states,” the yoga guru said.
Ramdev, whose campaign against corruption and black money at the Ramlila Ground had been brought to an abortive end in June this year, said he has not been issued any notice by the Enforcement Directorate for the foreign fundings of his trusts.
“The foreign funds we have received for our trusts is as per the norms prescribed under Foreign Currency Regulatory Act and no law has been violated. No government notice has come to me or the institutions run by me,” Ramdev said. He said that the trusts run by him have no direct relation with any company in India and abroad and no law has been violated while exporting the medicines manufactured by these trusts.
Replying to a question on his aide Acharya Balkrishna, charged with having his passport issued on the basis of fake documents, Ramdev said, “Acharya is being framed by the government. He is an Indian citizen of Nepalese origin. Around one crore such people are living in India.”
The yoga guru claimed the support of more than 100 crore people in the country and said, “More than 10 crore people are ready to do anything for me. My fight is not against any party but corruption.” PTI
