Ramdev says his protest is against graft, claims no political agenda

KARAMSAD (GUJARAT): As he prepares to launch his indefinite protest against corruption and blackmoney from Thursday, yoga guru Ramdev today said he has no political agenda and refused to comment on erstwhile Team Anna's decision to take political plunge.

"There are 121 crore people in the country. If all fight elections, then how many polling booths will have to be set up...121 crore people do not need to fight elections for their rights," Ramdev said.

Addressing a press conference at Sardar Vallabhai Patel's ancestral house here, the yoga guru said his agenda is to save the country and democracy by eradicating corruption and bringing back blackmoney.

Asked about Team Anna's decision, he said, "the whole politicisation of the agitation which happened, I have no comments on that. I am not part of that. Anna himself after consultations have disbanded the team. Now what is their decision, ask them."

Hazare yesterday disbanded his team and appeared to be speaking in mixed tones on the political course taken by the anti-corruption movement.

The announcement came in his blog which suggested that Hazare was not fully with Team Anna on its journey into electoral politics.

Queried whether the anti-graft crusader will participate in his agitation, he said Hazare has said several times that he will attend.

"We are with them on the issue of corruption. On their political agenda, I am not keeping silent. We are independent. We have not cheated anyone," he said.