Ramdev arrives at Team Anna fast, takes over event

Ramdev brought in crowds briefly today to Team Anna's indefinite fast, which has so far failed to evoke much response, but differed with it on the issue of attacking new President Pranab Mukherjee.

The crowd, which appeared dismal in the morning, swelled with the arrival of Ramdev in the afternoon at the Team Anna fast venue at Jantar Mantar.

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His supporters came with him in a processions to Jantar Mantar from Ramlila Maidan, where Ramdev is planning a protest from August nine against black money, bringing some relief on the faces of Team Anna members.

At the venue, Team Anna supporters accused the media of belittling their protest by focusing on lack of crowds.

Though he attacked the Prime Minister, the yoga guru disapproved of Team Anna making accusations against the President, saying it is not proper to criticise a person holding the highest constitutional office.

Ramdev also said while he would continue to support the Team Anna movement, he was against personal attacks on anyone.

"The President's office is a constitutional post. One should not criticise those who occupy constitutional posts.

Even Anna Hazare agrees with this," he told reporters at Ramlila Maidan before going to Team Anna's protest.

At the protest site, Ramdev picked the Prime Minister for his attack, saying, "India now needs an honest Prime Minister to bring change in the country...The role of the government is not to just bring economic prosperity but also to raise pride of the nation the world over.

"But instead our own Prime Minister is being branded as an underachiever. It is not a matter of joke but of shame," he said.

Congress hit out at Hazare and his team accusing them of turning dharnas into a "joke" as the indefinite fast against corruption entered its third day.

... contd.

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