After Hazare, Ramdev to fast unto death over black money

Taking a leaf out of social crusader Anna Hazare's book, popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev today said he would go on a fast unto death in New Delhi from 4 June over the issue of corruption and illicit money being stashed abroad.

Among other things, Ramdev will demand the death penalty for corrupt officials and a ban on high-denomination currency notes.

The satyagraha will be held at Ramlila Maidan "to force the government to act on corruption-related issues", Ramdev told reporters in Mumbai.

"Along with me, several supporters spread across the world will also fast during the satyagraha," he said. He has invited Hazare, former police officer Kiran Bedi, and Karnataka lokayukta, justice Santosh Hegde, to join him.

However, Ramdev said though he appreciated efforts of eminent lawyers Shanti Bhushan and his son Prashant on the lokpal bill, they had not been invited to join him.

Vowing to take forward the fight against corruption, Ramdev said a strong lokpal bill should be enacted by August this year, as assured by the central government after a hunger strike by Hazare in New Delhi last month.