Baba Ramdev mocks PM, ends fast, vacates Ambedkar stadium

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his supporters have vacated the Ambedkar stadium after the yoga guru ended his fast. He is likely to leave for Haridwar late on Tuesday afternoon. Before ending his fast, Baba Ramdev targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and slammed the Congress, claiming the support of all other political parties.

Ramdev ended his fast by drinking a glass of lime juice offered to him by two children. He also had food offered by one of his followers who he claimed was 100 years old. The Delhi Police had given him a deadline of 1 pm to vacate the stadium. He vacated the venue saying he respected the Independence Day preparations.

However, daring the government, Ramdev also said he could have stalled the Independence Day celebrations and could have stopped the Prime Minister from unfurling the flag on August 15.

Ramdev took potshots at Prime minister Manmohan Singh saying he should not go to the Gurudwara. "He should not go to the Gurudwara and insult Guru Granth Sahib, he should become a baba like us," Ramdev said.

Targeting the Congress, Ramdev said, "The Congress has proved it is the most corrupt party. The Congress should surely lose elections but we will disclose the name of the party that should win elections, only closer to elections," Ramdev said.

"I haven't eaten or taken a bath for five days, I will now go straight to take a dip in the river Ganga," Ramdev said indicating taht he would head to Haridwar.

Ramdev also claimed the support of all political parties except the Congress. "Have received support from Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati. The NCP also called me for support. If these three support me, then in a day the government will fall apart. The NDA also supports this cause. The Left also supports us. Only Congress stands alone, that's the success of this agitation," he said.

While on Monday, top NDA members like Nitin Gadkari, Sharad Yadav and Subramanian Swamy shared the stage with Ramdev, on Tuesday it was senior lawyer and BJP leader Ram Jethmalani to come forward.

The Delhi Police had submitted a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Baba Ramdev's agitation. The report expressed security concerns about an unverified mob sitting so close to the Red Fort on the eve of the Independence Day.

Ramdev was requested by the Delhi Police on Tuesday morning to vacate the Ambedkar stadium before August 15 because of security concerns. Ramdev appealed to the public to come out in large numbers.

On Tuesday morning, Ramdev also said that the government may try to evict him. Addressing his supporters early morning, he said history will be created on Tuesday and he will announce his next course of action before noon.

Ramdev held an early morning strategy session with his close aides to fine tune the future course of his protest.

A defiant Ramdev and his supporters spent Monday night camping inside Delhi's Ambekar stadium even after being released.