Ramadev writes to PM: Don't allow repeat of June 4 crackdown on Anna Hazare's protest

NEW DELHI: Yoga guru Ramdev, who along with his supporters faced police crackdown during their agitation at Ramlila Maidan, on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking him to exercise "self restraint" and ensure that similar action was not taken against Anna Hazare and his team.

As confrontation between Hazare and government escalated after police denied permission to the gandhian for holding a fast from tomorrow to press for a strong Lokpal Bill, Ramdev, in his letter to the Prime Minister, said such protests should not be "crushed" through "unconstitutional and undemocratic" means.

"We would expect that you will exercise self-restraint and not allow a repeat of what happened against us on the midnight of June 4 at the Ramlila maidan," the yoga guru said.

Delhi Police's refusal of permission coincided with THE Prime Minister's strong remarks in his Independence Day speech that hunger strikes and fasts-unto-death do not help address the problem of corruption and Parliament is the only body to form legislations to curb the menace.

Ramdev in his letter to the PM reiterated his demand for bringing back the black money stashed abroad under UN convention against corruption and declaring it as national asset.