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'Congress hatao, desh bachao'
Yoga guru Ramdev on Tuesday broke his six-day fast and ended a distinctly anti-Congress protest on the black money issue by calling for the defeat of the party in the next Lok Sabha elections.
"The result of any protest is not determined by the government but by the people. I am happy that over 400 Members of Parliament supported our demands. This government has cheated the people and Parliament," Ramdev said after breaking his fast at the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi.
"Congress hatao, desh bachao (Remove the Congress, save the country)," he said in his speech lasting an hour and added that except Congress, all parties were together on the issue of black money.
After spending the night with hundreds of supporters at the Ambedkar Stadium even after his release from detention, Ramdev broke his fast by sipping a glass of juice offered by some children.
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'We have made all parties come together'
Ending the protest, he headed for his ashram in Haridwar while the supporters dispersed, allowing authorities to heave a sigh of relief.
Accusing the United Progressive Alliance government of failing in its efforts to bring back black money, he said the government would have lost if voting was held on the issue in Parliament.
"If there was voting in Parliament on black money, the government would have lost it. If Mulayam Singh and Mayawati withdraw support, the government will fall in one day," he said, adding that the central government has no right to continue.
"We are not leaving this place defeated but we are going as victorious. We have made all parties come together (on the issue of black money). We have not targeted or tarnished Congress. It was its own doing. The government said they have brought out a White Paper but what they have brought out is a false paper," Ramdev said.
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'We have decided not to vote for Congress'
Attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Ramdev asked him to show "political will and honesty" in brining back black money stashed abroad.
"He (Dr Singh) should show political will and honesty and if he does not show it, he will be deemed as corrupt. If he can't remain politically honest, then he should leave the post," Ramdev said.
The yoga guru also said that if he had wanted, he could have stopped the prime minister from hoisting the national flag on Wednesday, but added that it was not the "right thing" to do.
Holding the Congress responsible for price rise and poverty, he asked people not to vote for the party in the next Lok Sabha polls.
"We have decided not to vote for Congress. The party has made us poor and put us in poverty. You have to tell people that it is the Congress which has pushed you to poverty and is responsible for price rise," he said.
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'Who to vote for? We will tell you'
"Next time in the elections, we should ensure that not a single Congress leader gets elected to Parliament. Who to vote for? We will tell you later. We have to vote for those who will bring back black money stashed abroad," he said, adding that the fast has just been suspended and the fight on the issue will continue.
Ramdev held an early morning strategy session with his close aides to fine-tune the future course of his protest.
He had on Monday night rejected an appeal by the police to vacate the stadium, as the facility is near Red Fort, where Independence Day celebrations will take place on Wednesday.
The yoga guru was arrested during a march to Parliament on Monday. He later refused to leave the stadium, where he and his supporters had been detained.
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