Ramdev threatens to launch agitation in poll-bound states

Yoga guru Ramdev on Wednesday threatened to launch a nationwide agitation against the United Progressive Alliance, starting from five poll-bound states, if it did not take "decisive" steps to bring the Jan Lokpal Bill and repatriate black money stashed abroad in the winter session of Parliament.

In a letter shot off to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the yoga guru, who was bundled out of Delhi during his June agitation at Ramlila Maidan against corruption, underlined his demands and set a one-week deadline for being informed about the measures taken to address his concerns. He said he was demanding that the Jan Lokpal Bill be passed in the winter session and efforts be made to bring back black money stashed abroad. He also said there was a need for change in the system.

"If the government does not take important and decisive steps on these three issues in the winter session, then I will be forced to organise agitations in the five poll-bound states, including Uttar Pradesh, and later extend it to other parts of the country," he told the media while releasing copies of his letter to the prime minister.