Police Forcibly Take Away Indian Yoga Guru as He Launches Protest Hunger Strike
- Posted on June 5, 2011 at 2:16pm by
Scott Baker
- Print »
- Email »
NEW DELHI (AP) — Hundreds of police officers swooped down Sunday on the venue of a hunger strike by a charismatic Indian yoga guru and forcibly removed him and thousands of his supporters.
Officers detained Baba Ramdev for security reasons, but later released him, said Rajan Bhagat, a police spokesman in the Indian capital, New Delhi.
Saffron-robed and bearded Ramdev and tens of thousands of his supporters went on hunger strikes across India and in several cities in the United States, Europe and Africa on Saturday in a campaign to try to root out India’s endemic corruption.
The police clampdown early Sunday came within hours of both the government and Ramdev announcing an agreement on steps to battle corruption.
Police said they had given permission to Ramdev to hold a yoga function with 5,000 people. “More than 40,000 people had turned up at the venue, and it was not possible to provide security to them,” Bhagat told The Associated Press.
Television channels reported that police sealed off the venue of the hunger strike and used canes to disperse Ramdev’s followers, causing injuries to some people. Hundreds of people were still in the area defying police orders.
Bhagat said police did not use force, but asked people to go home.
For years, Ramdev, a wildly energetic man with the cascade of black hair, has contorted his body through a series of complex yoga poses, drawing millions of people across India to gather in front of their televisions to follow his every move.
His promise: health and happiness.
Ramdev chanted Hindu religious hymns and performed yoga exercises Saturday before starting his hunger strike, which critics said undermined the country’s democratic institutions.
He vowed to battle the pervasive culture of corruption in a country where everything from getting a driver’s license to setting up a business involves paying bribes.
“There is a powerful anger in the people of this country. They want urgent action,” he said.
Ramdev told his followers later Saturday that the government had agreed to his demands and that he was waiting for a written assurance before ending his protest.
His demands include immediate steps by the government to bring back millions of dollars illegally stashed abroad by Indians and the imposition of tough penalties on those who continue to put their money in safe havens.
Kapil Sibal, a government negotiator, said he would soon give Ramdev a written assurance. But later he criticized the guru for continuing the protest despite an agreement with the government.
Comments (15)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 576 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 404 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 372 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 343 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 404 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 343 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 150 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
MUDFLAPS
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 6:32pmdont bug me with this, im eating.
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 5:14pmmore crap from the AP….. this site is starting to make a HUGE SUCKING SOUND….
Report Post »cr0Wn1
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 12:32pmGood for him hope he keeps up his protest. We should do the same against Obama corrupt form of government.
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 11:50amWell, at least he’s doing something other than typing his distain in an online forum. The hate abounds here. And no BJCOLTER, it isn’t in their religious paradigm to destroy someone soley because of religious beliefs.
Report Post »barrycooper
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 10:42amThey couldn’t “provide security”, so they beat them.
Most Americans fail to grasp how good we have it. We get furious at unions compelling membership at the expense of jobs; or using taxpayer money to lobby for more taxpayer money.
But in China, India, Egypt, and many other places, EVERY official uses his power to suck money out of you. Imagine if the nominal cost of a traffic ticket was $50, but that every time you were pulled over–and you need not have actually been speeding for this to happen–they demanded $200 on the spot, or you were going to jail? What if you had to slip a a $50 in with your drivers licence application? What if you couldn’t get a business license unless you sent the guy granting them two call girls?
I say this guy is providing a needed service, and doing it, apparently, with no thought of reward for himself. This is the sort of thing, and the sort of tactic, used by Martin Luther King, Jr.
I’m curious how many of you could go a day without food, much less the weeks he was planning.
Report Post »jawga61
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:12pmDon;t think our freedom isn’t going to be taken away to. It is in the making. As for us going without food, other than the ones that can think ahead and try to put some back, we also will be fighting over food. Stock up on a lot of ammo!
Report Post »exliberalgrl
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 7:51am@JOEYSOCAL Let us know when you have something intelligent to say.
More power to them and the Guru. I agree with DONPUMPKIN I would rather have this than a crazed Radical muslim with a bomb.
Report Post »JoeySocal
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 11:14amI‘ll bet you’re smelly too.
Report Post »donpumpkin
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 6:32amHmm, lets see…Protesting government corruption. Using non-violent methods. I like their choice of methods. Perhaps you prefer the islamic model-strap on a bomb & wade into crowded public places.
Report Post »WSGAC
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 6:49amRefusing to eat may be non violent…as is not combing my hair, not brushing my teeth, not wearing deodorant or bathing….oh wait a minute, he appears to be doing these things also. I’m sure such tactics will bring the government to the bargaining table. “If we promise to clean up our act will you please promise to eat you curry rice?”
Yeah, that’ll work. NOT!
Report Post »MOLLYPITCHER
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 6:21am@ sissycat
Report Post »I agree with you.
Rice Water
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:01amI bet he votes for Obama, and has all of Al Gore’s books. And he smells like progressive, liberal crap.
And liberals are stupid!
Report Post »JoeySocal
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 1:31amI’ll bet he smells like crap.
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 2:00amJoey
I bet you are right. He just looks like he stinks lol
I do not understand “Hunger Strikes” at all and never have. I could care less whether this fool ever eats again. I do not want anyone to go hungry,but to deliberately stop eating to make a point just seems ridiculous to me. Am I alone on this? Does anyone on this site care whether someone on a hunger strike ever eats or Not????? Am I missing something about this ???
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 8:45amHunger strike is a discipline called fasting. The Buddha did it and achieved enlightenment.
For you to understand it, you must understand this statement.
“The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Satan will tempt you through the needs of your body. All sin is of the flesh. We must reject our fleshly desires.
Report Post »