This Article is From Jun 04, 2011

Indian-Americans hold meetings, fast in support of Baba Ramdev

Washington: Hundreds of Indian-Americans in cities across the United States today started meetings and observed fast in support of the anti-corruption crusade launched by yoga guru Baba Ramdev in New Delhi.

Baba Ramdev solidarity meetings are being held in some two dozen cities across the US, according to latest news reports coming from the organisers, Bharat Swabhiman Overseas (BSO), a US-based organisation which supports the ideology and goal of the Indian guru.

"The purpose is to support the great movement which is going on in India this time against corruption," said Dr Bhishma Agnihotri, the former Ambassador-at-Large of India.

Brushing aside the government's persuasion, 46-year-old Ramdev began his indefinite hunger strike at New Delhi's Ramlila Maidan demanding repatriation of black money stashed away abroad as thousands of followers joined him in the protest across India.

President of BSO, Agnihotri today travelled from Batan Rouge in Louisiana to Houston in Texas to attend the main event.

In Fairfax, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, several hundred people are expected to gather late in the afternoon to listen to the video message of Ramdev.

"People would listen to his message in the fight against corruption," said Shardanand, one of the organisers.

"Purpose is to tell that we people living in the US have equal stake in what is going on inside India. We are embarrassed by what is going on in India," Agnihotri said.

"Now, the corruption has gone beyond control," he underlined, adding that more and more Indian-Americans are joining this movement against corruption in India.
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