Thousands of supporters of a yoga guru were arrested by police officers on Monday after marching towards India’s Parliament in an effort to change the government and increase a protest against corruption. The yoga guru, Baba Ramdev, was taken into custody by police and shouted slogans to his followers to fight the endemic corruption of the Indian government.
Ramdev and his supporters were occupying a New Delhi fairground for four days. This is where the thousands of people were arrested by police. They were transported to a stadium in the city and then were released sometime during the evening hours, according to Rajan Bhagat of New Delhi police. Ramdev did not leave the stadium and he asked that the police give his followers food and water. Ramdev said that he would end his fast of five days if the police followed through with his request.
“Throw out the Congress; save the country,” Ramdev chanted during the march. “The government has become completely deaf. We have to make them hear us. Now our protest will move from here to the doorstep of the Parliament.”
At the protest, Nitin Gadkari, president of the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party, and Sharad Yadav of the socialist party, were in attendance and spoke to the protestors. Ramdev has a television show, which airs daily, and he uses his celebrity to protest for anti-corruption forces.
