Ramdev slams media persons for posing tricky questions (Update)

Jhansi, Sep 20 (ANI): Ahead of kicking off his campaign against corruption, oga Guru Baba Ramdev on Tuesday hit out at media persons saying they never put up corruption related questions to the all the heavyweights of ruling Congress Party, but always pose tricky questions to him.

"Mediapersons never ask corruption related questions to either Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi or federal Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee. But you all, always come to us with indirect questions. I will not answer questions asked in indirect language. I have not committed any sin and I always talk about the welfare of the country. If you try to humiliate me then I would not answer your questions," said Ramdev.

"If I have thanked Mayawati then I don't think thanking somebody is a crime. She is the chief minister of the state and she has supported this mega campaign. She has not committed sins like the Central Government nor she has been any obstruction to it, instead she has indirectly supported the nation building campaign. On humanitarian ground I think it is correct to thank her (Mayawati)," he added.

Ramdev had earlier in the day said that his 'yatra' was not politically motivated and that no politicians or political outfits were involved in it.

"We won't take the names of any politician or a political outfit. We have not taken any names and if we have thanked sister Mayawati (state chief of Uttar Pradesh); there is nothing wrong in it. It is not a crime," said Ramdev.

Asserting that he would continue to raise awareness about important issues of corruption, disease prevention and alcohol de-addiction, Ramdev also reminded the lawmakers that they should not underestimate the power of the citizens of the country, who can vote in and vote out governments.

"We are going to discuss and talk about yoga, disease prevention, alcohol de-addiction, bringing back Rs. 400 crore to the country, eradication of corruption, change in corrupt system. Other than all these issues, we won't talk about any other controversial issues," Ramdev said.

"The journey has begun from Jhansi and the voice will start from the streets and reach the parliament. You can run governments by sitting in Delhi but it is the citizens (of India) who make the government. And when the time comes, they can also change the seat of power. This is what the lawmakers in Delhi need to understand," he added.

Ramdev began a 1,00,000--km- long 'yatra' earlier in the day from Jhansi to Prayag to highlight his fight against corruption across the country and the functioning of the political system.

Ramdev's campaign would be an addition to the list of embarrassments for a Congress Party-led coalition hit by graft scandals, including allegations of kickbacks at the Commonwealth Games and a telecom scams that may have cost the government up to 39 billion dollars as revenue.

Baba Ramdev had earlier urged the government to take steps to get back the billions of dollars siphoned off to foreign countries and also to introduce tough anti-corruption law.

He would travel to seven districts of the state, which include Jhansi, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Ramabai Nagar, Unnao, Hardoi and Farrukhabad as part of his anti-graft march.

The march would conclude on October 3.

Ramdev had earlier staged a fast against corruption in June that was forcibly ended by the Delhi Police after the yoga guru and thousands of his followers were driven out of the Ramlila Ground. (ANI)