Corruption stain CAN'T be washed away: Hazare on Ramdev ink attack

Anna Hazare on Saturday denounced as an attempt to "blacken democracy" the incident in which Swami Ramdev's face was smeared with ink and said such attacks will not deter "people's movements".

"This is not an attempt to blacken the face of Swami Ramdev. This is an attempt to blacken democracy," Hazare said in a statement from his village where he is convalescing after a bout of bronchitis.

"Someone's unblemished life cannot be sullied due to the ink, which will be wiped off clean in two minutes. But those whose life is stained with corruption, goondaism and loot... those stains won't be washed away," he said.

Click on NEXT for more...

Hazare, whose anti-corruption movement had the support of the yoga guru in the initial stages of the stir for a strong Lokpal before the two drifted apart, said, "Ramdev will always fight for the betterment of the society and country and lakhs of workers like us will support him."

"People's movement will not stop due to such attacks but it will intensify," he said.

A man threw black ink on Ramdev's face on Saturday afternoon during a press conference where he was talking about his plans to campaign against black money in the forthcoming assembly elections.

Earlier, alleging that he is being "victimised" for raising issues like black money and corruption, yoga guru Ramdev said he was willing to put behind the past and talk to the government if it takes a clear stand.

Click on NEXT for more...

Ramdev also indirectly attacked the Congress, saying except one party at the Centre, no other political outfit has a problem in declaring black money as national wealth.

"For a long time, I have been talking about black money and corruption. For this reason, several officials from different agencies have been deputed against me and my supporters. They have set the CBI after my aide Balkrishna," he alleged.

The yoga guru also sought to reach out to the Congress and the government, saying he was ready to forget "old issues".

"We are ready to forget old issues and we can talk to them, but they need to clear their stand on three issues -- black money, corruption, change in the system," he said.

Ramdev was apparently referring to the late night swoop on his fast at Ramlila Maidan by the Delhi police on June 5 that resulted in injuries to several people. The yoga guru was bundled out of Delhi after the incident.