Ramdev's health deteriorates, worried doctors ask him to break fast

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's health has started deteriorating as his fast against corruption entered its fifth day on Wednesday.

Doctors attending to the yoga guru have requested him to end his fast soon.

"His health is going down. He has lost weight and is suffering from dehydration. He is not keeping well," Chief Medical Officer, Haridwar, Dr Yogesh Sharma said while briefing mediapersons.

Sharma said, "We have requested that he should take liquid intake like milk and juices. It will be better if he ends his fast."

The yoga guru, along with hundreds of his disciples, is observing a fast from June 4 at Patanjali Yogapeeth, nearly 20 kms from Haridwar, to press for his demands of bringing back black money from foreign nations, tougher anti-graft laws and uprooting corruption.

Earlier in the day, Ramdev said that his fast will continue till the Centre accepts all his demands.

"My fast is on along with thousands of my followers in each and every part of this country. People in 624 districts are on fast," he said.

He said, "I request children and old people not to participate in the fast. Others should join this movement like many of their brethren."

Scores of Ramdev supporters are also participating in a day-long sit-in by social activist Anna Hazare, demanding a strong anti-corruption Lokpal bill in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Ramdev's followers continue to pour in from all over the country, raising anti-graft slogans, chanting holy songs and listening to sermons being given by religious leaders at the huge yagya shala inside the Yogapeeth.

"We are with the Baba till he ends his fast. There are many others who are also fasting along with him," said Lokesh, who has come from Haldwani to participate in the campaign.

Meanwhile, senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal on Wednesday met Baba Ramdev to extend his support to the yoga guru.

"There has to be a strict anti-corruption law. There has to be clean and transparent governance, a proper system for the welfare of people. There are people who are looting our country. It must be stopped," Singhal said.

Singhal, who shared the stage with Ramdev for over 45 minutes, said, "Black money must be brought in for our own betterment. If we get all the black money deposited in foreign countries, it will only help in our prosperity."

Terming as "barbaric" the police action on the followers of Ramdev at Delhi's Ramlila ground on June 4, he said, "Whatever happened reminded me of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre where bullets were showered on innocent people."

Taking a dig at Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, he said, "They (Congress) are the people who call the most dreaded terrorist Osamaji and Baba Ramdev a thug. It clearly exposes them."