Turn full-time politician: Digvijay to Ramdev

Hitting out at Baba Ramdev?s planned fast against black money, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Friday said he should give up his yoga practices and become a full-time politician.

“If Ramdev wants to do politics, he should give up yoga. He shouldn?t try to balance politics behind the curtains of yoga; better become a full-time politician,? said Singh.

?As it is he is not a guru any more. He has become a businessman now. He charges Rs. 50,000 for teaching yoga,? he said.

Meanwhile, Ramdev on Friday said corrupts should be given death sentence.

“I will start my fast from tomorrow (Saturday). My mission is neither politically motivated nor communal, nor do I have any underground agenda. Corrupt people have no religion, they are demons. All corrupt ministers should be given the death sentence,? Ramdev told a massive gathering at Ramlila ground here.

Clarifying his stand, Ramdev said: “I am not crossing the limits of Yoga. Not lying and stealing is also part of yoga and I am trying to bring those who have crossed that limit back within the limit.”

Ramdev, however, hinted at a negotiation with the government.

?There are one or two issues; barring those, a consensus seems to be emerging between us and the government,” said Ramdev.

He also invited political parties to join his cause.

“Our agitation is not against any political party or individual. We are neutral, not being sponsored by any party or organisation and people from all castes and religion are joining us. We appeal to all parties to join us. We are erecting a special stage where representatives from all parties can come to put forth their point of view,” he said.

Much to the embarrassment of the government, the saffron groups have started lending support to the movement of Baba Ramdev with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) activists gearing up to join the fast of Ramdev who is demanding the recovery of the black money stashed away in banks abroad.

Baba Ramdev spent the night on the stage where he will undertake the fast from June 4.

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has cancelled his Kolkata visit and remained engaged in diffusing the situation even as the Congress-led government has come under sharp criticism of the Congress party itself for going all out to placate the Baba.

Union Ministers Kapil Sibal and Subodh Kant Sahay would meet the Baba again Friday to convince him to call off the hungerstrike.

Lakhs have already pledged support to the yoga guru in his anti-black money movement.