Even as yoga guru Baba Ramdev remained firm on going ahead with his fast to demand urgent steps to curb corruption, the government on Friday made a fresh attempt to pacify the spiritual guru.
Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay will meet Ramdev to persuade him to call off his proposed hunger strike.
They will meet Baba Ramdev at the Ramlila grounds.
Meanwhile, asserting that black money stashed abroad should be declared a national property, Ramdev remained firm on going ahead with his fast to demand urgent steps to curb corruption.
"The black money stashed abroad should be declared national property, and keeping black money should be considered a crime at par with sedition. We are not staging any protest or rebellion," he told reporters here.
He further said his movement is not politically motivated.
"It is not sponsored by an individual nor by any political party," he added.
Earlier, Anna Hazare announced that he would take part in Ramdev's movement against black money and corruption.
"I will join Baba Ramdev on June 5. I will sit with him on the dais and discuss many issues. If we all get together, then the government will have to concede to our demands,"
he told reporters.
The government had earlier deputed Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath and Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman Sudhir Chandra to persuade Baba Ramdev not to undertake the agitation, but the effort failed.
Ramdev had announced his decision to go on a fast over the black money issue last month. He is demanding that black money stashed away in safe havens abroad be brought back to India.
TRANSLATION OF BABA RAMDEV'S SPEECH AT RAMLILA GROUND
All those people who have come from far in this heat, under adverse conditions, without caring for their comforts are doing everything for their nation…today when there's no time for our own family, at this time a 'sanyasi' has decided to end corruption and to change things today…I am thankful that you all have come in thousands. I can understand your determination and emotions and from tomorrow, the "bhrashtachar mitao satyagraha" which will start, will also comprise women and children. I am thankful to you all. The primary cause is to change an established order. I asked little children what they will do…and they said they would fast to bring back black money. They said, "Even we will fight against corruption with you'. I can see even a one-year-old in the audience. My words fall short… I am so touched.
I agree there are some good leaders, businessmen but the corrupt politicians… have lakhs and crores of rupees that they have gained from the people's hard earned money. So they are people who have eventually become strong. They are not of good character…these corrupt people have gained strength through so much money. Today America is a superpower, UK, Germany and France are superpowers…but we forget that all these countries are in crores of debt. What does this mean? This is actional tax. They have gained this money by exploiting poor countries like India. All the corrupt people in India who have not been faithful to 'Bharat Mata' will not want black money to come back. Now, when there's an anti-corruption movement in the country, even people like Maulana ji, Rizwiji are here to lend their support…this is not a political or business agenda and nor do we have any underground agenda. Our agenda is to get black money back. We have to end corruption. And inspired by this idea, we are all asking for our rights by adopting an enthusiastic yet peaceful means of protest.
If black money is brought back in this country, no one will go hungry, no one will be without a livelihood. Our currency will be stronger than the dollar or pound. I want to see that day soon… the currency should stand at $1=Rs 50. I want to see an India like that. When we bring back black money, this will be possible. Our country's pride will rise. A country that was known for its good values is now the leading country when it comes to corruption and poverty, lack of education, population density, hunger and poverty…this is of deep anguish to me. The same country that was the pinnacle of discipline and knowledge of science and maths, geography, …the country that taught others to live has now become a country of vice. We will restore its lost glory. There will be hope and trust and we will strive for a better India.
Corruption will and that will be a step forward. This is not a small thing or small endeavour. Our children will not need to go abroad and study and our children who go there will not suffer murders and disrespect (possible allusion to racism). "Yogya bhi sikhayenge, desh bhi bachayenge, kala dhan layenge, aur Hindustan ko takatvar banayenge." Aren't there at least 400 people in this country like Hasan Ali? Aren't there at least 250 people like A Raja? This is not even a Hindu-Muslim issue…this stems from a demonic tendency in human beings. Corruption has permeated everywhere.
We have asked the government to make a Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act whereby every individual's work that involves going to a government servant is completed within a month or else a fine up to Rs 250-500 is imposed upon the government servant. If the government official in question repeatedly does this, he should be made to resign.
The corrupt should be punished and black money be recovered from them. They should be punished with life imprisonment or death sentence.
So brothers and sisters, I have 3 demands from the government-
1. The Land Acquisition Act of 1894 should be amended. I am the son of a farmer and I know the pain of agricultural land-owners. No one should take away even an inch of the farmer's land from him without his permission. The Baba you love I was also into agriculture before becoming a yogi. A peon earns 15k but a farmer after working day and night gets suicide…death. Government policies should be pro-farmers.
2. In the education sector, there should be no injustice. In India, a majority of the people are not given access to English. In medical and engineering exams, questions should be in regional languages so that people of the lower strata emerge with flying colours.
3. The PM should be directly elected by the people.
Our protest is not political in nature….neither do we want to outdo or oust anyone. The government has conceded to some of our demands.. the talks with the government seem to be along positive lines. Our motive is to end corruption and change the present situation of the country.
I am deeply grateful to all of you. We are doing all this for our country…we are merely repaying some of what we owe to our motherland. This is our duty. This protest will include people of all rungs. If political parties wish to join the endeavour, they are most welcome to because they will be fighting for the truth.
If we can spend 25 to 50 lakhs to recover crores of rupees then this is worth it. The pandals constructed and fans running for this cause are out of the hard earned money of people not through black money or the black money in Swiss banks. Ninety-nine of our campaign comprises the "aam junta". This campaign is not promoted by Coca Cola or Pepsi or any other MNC. People of all caste and creed are present here. This "satyagraha" is for truth.
All my brothers from the print media… (not clear) who have given a coverage of 2-4 full pages about this campaign or highlighted the names of those who have coveted black money through unfair means is appreciated. And I also want to thank the electronic media for covering this event. A huge round of applause for the media.
02233081122 is the number. When I asked people to show their support for the campaign through miss calls, more than 55 lakh miss calls have already been registered and by tomorrow, more than 1 crore miss calls will be registered. We have already made a world record. These miss calls will help to further awaken the masses. "This is not a yogya leela but a rashtra leela. Ram leela ke maidan mein, bhrashtachar ke raavan ka vaddh hoha."
Many asked me, "Baba, how many will join this protest in this heat?" I said, "Those will come who love their motherland. No one can stop them. Not the sun and not the heat." Those who will not be able to come, can in their hearts support this movement. If you get lemon with water, I will get only water. This time we will write history.
Devendra Sharma- We are thankful to him. He has been agitating for farmers' rights since a long time. Also, we want to thank Haryana Lokyukta- Justice Shri Pritam Pal who is part of our campaign and Dr. Kulbir Shikara who keeps me updated on policy decisions and all other intellectuals who are present here today…also Jaideepji and Rakeshji.
We all share a common motherland. All those people who want justice will say we want to eliminate justice and recover black money.
The crucial work of character-building is our continuous agenda which is already in progress in villages. Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christians have all united for this cause. Some people have started their fast today itself.
"Hum Dilli Dilli jayenge..apna Hind banayenge, yogi banke rehna hai, fauji banke rehna hai, har dard dilon mein sehna hai."
6:32 AM
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