Baba Ramdev’s followers prepare ground for protest

Baba Ramdev’s followers in the city are busy making preparation for the yoga guru’s indefinite hunger strike that commences in New Delhi on Saturday.

Baba Ramdev’s followers in the city are busy making preparation for the yoga guru’s indefinite hunger strike that commences in New Delhi on Saturday.

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Arrangements are being made at Azad Maidan to accommodate thousands of his supporters. On Friday, waterproof pandals with high platform for seating and roof cover were being installed.

“We have arranged for 1.5ft high platforms to seat people so that if it rains the water would flow out without affecting the protesters,” said Suresh Naik, Mumbai president, Bharat Swabhiman. “Also, we have made arrangements for tarpaulin roof covers to make it rain and sun proof.”

According to Naik, though they have received permission to accommodate 1,000 people, they are expecting a crowd of nearly 3,000 to 4,000 supporters.

Naik said 51 people, of which 22 are women, would also be going on an indefinite hunger strike from Saturday. “More than 400 people had offered to fast, but we requested them not to as it would be difficult to manage so many people if anything went wrong,” he added.

“As a student I always wanted to stop corruption, but didn’t know how to,” said Sachin Bidwai, a resident of Nagpur who will be participating in the hunger strike. “Baba once told me that 80% of the Indian population earned only Rs20 per day and that according to a survey an Rs400 lakh crore was in the foreign countries that is saved and invested illegally. I was shocked and then decided to join the movement.”