Washington: Supporters of Baba Ramdev in the US on Sunday condemned the police crackdown on his fast against corruption in New Delhi, claiming that it was an act of treachery against the yoga guru and his followers.
A large number of Indian Americans, who gathered in more than two dozen cities across the US yesterday to show solidarity with his movement back home, became agitated following the news of the crackdown.
"The Indian Diaspora condemns it. We urge everybody to join in the movement to restore democracy and civility in India," said Bhishma Agnihotri, the former Indian Ambassador-at-Large, for NRIs & PIOs, at a meeting in Houston.
Referring to the turn of events at the Ramlila Maidan last night, Agnihotri, president of the of Bharat Swabhiman Overseas, said: "It was an act of treachery upon Baba Ramdev and his followers, who had come to present their demands against rampant corruption in India."
"We, the people of Indian-origin all over the world are deeply depressed, embarrassed and pained by this vulgar display of naked power. No justification of any kind can condone these vicious actions," Agnihotri said.
"It is outrages that the Congress government is coming down on the peaceful protesters against corruption. This is reminding the 1975 emergency when the civil rights were denied," said Khande Rao Kand, an Indian-American technocrat in the Silicon valley who attended an event in support of the yoga guru at Freemont California.
In nearly two dozen cities across the US, including Chicago, Boston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, the events featured fasting, yoga camp, panel discussion.
At many places, people were glued to the Aastha Channel which was broadcasting Live from Delhi and recorded messages of Baba Ramdev.
In Chicago, Gayatri Shakti Peeth held a panel discussion on the Lokpal Bill, how NRIs could help to eradicate corruption and raise the standard of living in India was held.
Americans as well as people from Kenya joined the event in Boston to support Baba Ramdev`s fast against corruption.
"Despite recent economic development, scams and corruption at every level is rampant everywhere and is plaguing the society. Baba Ramdev`s efforts to educate the masses and his crusade against corruption and black money is seen as a ray of hope," said Ajay Verma, coordinator of the event.
Expressing disappointment at police action, Verma said that it was hard to understand why the authorities did so.
"If somebody is doing something for the good of society, what is wrong in that. We will keep on supporting such movements, no matter who does it," he said.
At the popular Durga Temple in Fairfax, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, community leader Satish Mishra, president of Federation of Indian American Associations - National Capital Region (FIA-NCR), made a power point presentation on why there is a greater need today to support this movement.
PTI
