Delhi police has permitted assemblage of not more than 5,000 people at Jantar Mantar, similar protests will be held in all state capitals
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has announced nation-wide protests on Sunday against black money stashed away by Indians abroad and corruption in the government. “The protest will take place simultaneously in the capital at Jantar Mantar, in all state capitals and in 650 districts across the country,” he said.
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Ramdev, who will stage a day-long hunger strike, will be joined by anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare who will also fast with his colleagues Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Kiran Bedi. The yoga guru said the protest in Delhi will start at 6 am after paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi and will end at 6 pm. Although Ramdev didn’t disclose the number of supporters that would join him at Jantar Mantar, Delhi police has given him permission for assemblage of not more than 5,000 people.
Ramdev’s rally also marks the first anniversary of Ramlila Maidan incident, where cops had resorted to lathi charge on a sleeping crowd to evict them from the venue. In this incident, one of his followers, Rajbala, later succumbed to injuries. Delhi police and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had to face widespread criticism for the action. Ramdev had that night fled the spot, but was later caught and sent to Haridwar.u00a0