New Delhi: Taunting the UPA government on the issue of corruption on the second day of his 3-day token fast, yoga guru Ramdev on Friday said if the Olympics gave a medal for corruption, India could have won gold.
Calling on all of India to support his agitation against black money and graft, Ramdev said, "India could have won gold if there was a competition for corruption in the Olympics.”
The crowds, which had started gathering since 8 am on Friday, cheered and clapped enthusiastically. To which Ramdev said, "This is not a matter to applaud."
Ramdev also asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to demonstrate "political honesty and political will" in bringing back black money stashed away in foreign shores which can be spent on empowering the people.
He claimed that terrorism and Naxalism in the country can be tackled if the government controls the flow of black money and the rising inflation.
"The government has the list of people who have stashed away black money in foreign shores. We don't want the names of those people, but at least disclose the amount at least. What is the harm in it? Why is the government reluctant?" he asked.
He said India can become the 'super power' in the world and the army can become more powerful than those in China and the US if the black money is brought back and spent on people and national security.
"We need an honest Prime Minister. I want the current Prime Minister to demonstrate his political honesty and political will on the issue of black money," he said addressing the gathering at his three-day fast venue at Ramlila Ground.
He also said that the government has to spell out its agenda on black money, corruption and Lokpal by Saturday.
"Many people say I have no agenda. The agenda is to save the country. The people of the country will ask the government and all parties to spell out their agenda," he said.
If the black money is brought to India, then the country can boast of world-class hospitals, educational institutions and other facilities, he said.
"Terrorism and naxalism are the two challenges. The root cause of this is black money. The menace can be tackled if the issue is solved," he said.
"People are talking about the equation I and Anna Hazare shares", Ramdev said, adding, "Every day people say there has been a fight between me and Annaji. I don't know from where people get such stories."
He said, "People don't like us because we don't have anything to lose."
He said in their speeches both the Prime Minister and the President say corruption is the biggest enemy. "If they know why don't they take steps to curb corruption?" he questioned.
Ramdev said people allege that he was in favour of the "sarkari" Lokpal. "I am not in favour of sarkari Lokpal. I am in favour of a consensus Lokpal. I want consensus on Lokpal," he said and demanded a strong Lokpal.
He started the day with a yoga camp, before addressing the crowd in a speech that pitched for his movement against black money as well as for a stringent Lokpal bill, an independent Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and a citizen's charter - also the demands of the now disbanded Team Anna.
"If the CBI is made independent, politics will become clean, because CBI is being used to blackmail opposition leaders," he said, echoing Team Anna leaders.
Ramdev also raised farmer suicides issue, saying the Land Acquisition Act needed to be abolished.
The three-day symbolic fast started on Thursday. Organisers are expecting more crowds over the extended three-day weekend.
(With additional inputs from PTI, IANS)
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