Archbishop express disquiet over saffron presence at Ramdev's campaign

The Archbishop of Delhi, Vincent Concessao, has expressed disquiet over the support of saffron leaders in Baba Ramdev's ongoing campaign against corruption.

Archbishop Concessao said he was sad to see a large number of saffron clad men at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi supporting yoga guru Baba Ramdev's indefinite fast against corruption.

The archbishop told media that the June 4 gathering makes one wonder whether it was a national, political or a religious movement.

He questioned why Sadhvi Ritmbarahe, an accused in the Babri Masjid demolition and a known anti-minorities activist was sharing dais with Baba Ramdev.

Concessao, however, condemned the midnight police action to evict the yoga guru and his supporters from Ramlila Grounds.

"It was not at all fair for the police to use violent means on the innocent unarmed masses to disperse them in the middle of the night," Concessao said in a statement.

The Delhi archbishop appreciated the initiative taken by the Prime Minister to address Baba Ramdev's concerns with regards to black money, but spoke strongly against "arm twisting methods" by politicians for their own gains.

Concessao is a founder member of the 'India Against Corruption' movement led by Arvind Kejrival, Anna Hazare and others.

Civil Society members have been demanding greater checks and balances on the functioning on the government by having institutions such as the Lokpal.

Media reported today that around 500 policemen were deployed in and around Rajghat in the capital as thousands of people joined Gandhian Anna Hazare in his day-long fast against police action on Baba Ramdev and for a tough anti-graft bill.

Hazare criticised the Government for trying to discredit the Lokpal Bill Drafting Committee and said if a desired Lokpal Bill was not passed he would again launch an indefinite hunger strike on August 16.

The 73-year-old leader has called the nationwide campaign against corruption as India's second independence struggle.