Ramdev seeks police nod for Ramlila Maidan fast on June 3

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has written to the Delhi Police seeking permission to hold a one-day fast at Jantar Mantar on the first anniversary of the midnight crackdown at Ramlila Grounds. An application was sent to the SHO of the Parliament Street Police Station from a member of the Ramdev camp on April 6. Police sources said the permission was yet to be given and that the organising members would be asked to sign an undertaking if the permission was granted.

The day-long fast has been planned for June 3. It was on the same day last year that the Delhi Police barged into the Ramlila Grounds in a midnight swoop to break up the Ramdev sit-in. “The organisers have already been told verbally that the strength should not exceed more than 5,000 and that they will have to submit three names from the organising committee who will coordinate with the local police. The application has been sent to the district DCP and other senior officers of the force. They have not been given the green signal till now,” said a police officer. With the police having learns their lesson from the June 3 incident — when tear gas shells had to fired to evict Ramdev and his supporters — sources said that a meeting will be held between senior police officers and Ramdev’s camp where the organising committee will be asked to brief the police about the fast.

Last year,52-year-old Rajbala died and several others were injured when police broke up the sit-in at the Ramlila Grounds.