Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev begin fast at Jantar Mantar

New Delhi – Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and social activist Anna Hazare will on Sunday sit in the capital on a day-long fast against corruption and black money stashed abroad. Sunday’s protest at Jantar Mantar is also likely to see Ramdev announcing his strategy with regard to the 2014 General Elections.

“The people are with us. They will leave their homes and face the hot weather to support us. The agitation will start at 10 am all across the country and end at 6 pm. Government will have to bow down before the people,” Ramdev said. “Ramdev is fighting against corruption. To make India corruption free, we have to fight together,” Anna told reporters.

The day-long fast coincides with completion of one year of police action against Ramdev’s agitation when he was forcibly removed from Ramlila Maidan and which had brought much criticism to the UPA.

The association with Ramdev had in the past created ripples in Team Anna with a section remaining opposed to have any truck with the yoga guru as he is facing corruption charges.

The fast comes in the wake of fresh corruption allegations made by Team Anna against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and 14 of his Cabinet ministers. Team Anna alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks to public and private companies. It has also questioned the role of Manmohan Singh in the suspected scam. The Prime Minister held the coal portfolio from November 2006 to May 2009.

Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai are expected to join Anna Hazare and Ramdev in the fast. It is also keenly watched whether retired Army chief Gen VK Singh, who had allegedly locked horns with the government on various issues, would attend the protest.

Ahead of the fast, both Anna and Ramdev stepped up their attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Anna had said that Singh has lost faith in government while Ramdev alleged that the Prime Minister was not “politically honest”.

Before sitting on the fast, both the activists will go to Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. A senior police official said they have made elaborate arrangements. Besides Delhi Police personnel, 20 companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed in the area.