Ramdev Aruna Roy Varun Gandhi

A mix at Ramlila: Civil judge, Aruna Roy, Varun Gandhi, Ramdev

Anna Hazare today had an unusual visitor in a civil judge at Ramlila Maidan where Aruna Roy, a critic of the Gandhian for his protest on Lokpal Bill, and BJP MP Varun Gandhi also came calling to the surprise of the protesters.

Civil Judge Ajay Pandey, who sits in the Tees Hazari court, raised eyebrows when he said, "I have been a judge at the Parliament Street court and other places and have closely seen how corruption prevails and mighty people are let off."

Pandey said he was not afraid of any consequences for coming on a public forum as he has done no wrong.

"I am one amongst the public. Why should I be afraid? When the country is here how can one remain away. I think it was my duty to come here and support the fight against corruption and I did it," he said, as Hazare’s fast entered the ninth day.

Yoga guru Ramdev was also at the Ramlila Maidan to extend support to Hazare’s movement for a strong Lokpal, nearly two-and-half months after he was evicted from the grounds in a midnight crackdown.

Ramdev said he was with the 74-year-old Gandhian for an hour to extend solidarity in his "fight against corruption" and make the system "transparent".

"The logjam(in talks) should end soon," Ramdev said.

Roy, a National Advisory Council (NAC) member, met the Gandhian along with her associates.

"We are concerned about Anna. We have old links with him," Roy told reporters here. It was Roy’s first meeting with Hazare after he began his indefinite fast on August 16.

Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan said Roy is a well-wisher of Hazare and had come to meet him.

Roy had recently criticised Hazare for "deriding" democratic institutions and alleged that he was "ill-advised".

In an apparent reference to Hazare setting a deadline to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill, she had said, "I think Annaji is ill-advised...Any who says my view should be the only view is wrong."

The National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI), with which Roy has been associated, has prepared a version of Lokpal Bill and presented it before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice and

Varun Gandhi, who has given a notice in Lok Sabha for tabling Hazare’s Jan Lokpal Bill as a private members’ bill, sat in the protesters’ enclosure.

Wearing a green kurta and sporting a tricolour badge, the 31-year-old Philibit MP came to the ground around 8:30 am.

"I have come here as a common man," Gandhi said.

Gandhi, who has been vocal in his support for Hazare’s movement, said his visit had nothing to do with his party.

‘Peepli Live’ actor Raghubir Yadav, who is the latest from Bollywood to support Hazare’s anti-corruption campaign, regaled the crowd with the popular song ‘Mehangai dayan, khaye jaat hai’ from the Aamir Khan-produced film.

And he did not miss out in sending a message.

"Peepli Live was a very small effort and venture. Thousands of peepli lives can be assimilated in this movement led by Anna Hazare," Yadav said.

Protest against attack on Ramdev

Various political and social organizations today resorted to demonstrations here to protest the eviction of Baba Ramdev and his followers from Ramlila ground in New Delhi during the night of June 4.

BJP activists took out a rally from party headquarters Kachi Chawni to Purani Mandi area of city and held peaceful protest demonstration against Congress-led UPA Government at Centre.

The leaders of BJP termed the Government action as anti-democratic and barbaric. Raising slogans, they sought resignation of UPA Government on moral grounds. The BJP activists held similar demonstrations at Kathua, Reasi, Akhnoor, Hiranagar and other parts of Jammu region to protest against the Government action against Baba and his supporters.

ABVP activists staged a demonstration at Parade and tried to disrupt the movement of vehicular traffic.

However, the police foiled their attempt by resorting to mild cane charge.

At Colour Chowk Rajouri the irate party activists also torched the effigy of AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh this morning. They also held a demonstration on Highway and disrupted the movement of vehicular traffic.

The party activists also torched the effigy of UPA Government at Hiranagar. While BJP and VHP activists jointly torched the effigy of UPA Government at Reasi.

Over 300 members of Pantanjali Yog Trust organized yagya and sat on continuous hunger strike at Jambulochan park in support of Baba’s "Satyagrah". They resolved to continue the dharna in support of Baba till he is on Satyagrah.

Opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) activists also held demonstration at Bikram Chowk against the forcible eviction of Ramdev. The Party leader Vikram Singh strongly condemned the attack on Baba and his supporters.

Anti-Corruption Front (ACF), Socialistic Democratic Party (SDP) and Bajrang Dal also held protests.

The SDP chief Dr Darkshan Andrabi while strongly condemning the use of force against he Baba and his supporters termed it an undemocratic act. While praising the Yoga Guru she said Baba Ramdev has strengthen and capability of taking all classes of Indian society with him. The plus point with Baba is that he is a staunch nationalist and that is the reason that aggrieved nation stood by his call, she added.

Sanatan Dharam Sabha, (SDS) Jammu has also strongly condemned the attack on Baba Ramdev and his supporters and termed it a shame on democracy.

The activists of Patanjali Yog Peeth led by Mahant Rameshwar Dass Ji took out a candle light procession from Purani Mandi in support of movement launched by Baba Ramdev and protest against the police action on him and his supporters. The procession after passing via Link Road, Jain Bazaar, Chowk Chabutra, Pacca Danga, Raj Tilak road later culminated at Purani Mandi. Besides, the BJP and NPP the activists of various social and religious organizations also participated in it. The NPP was represented by Balwant Singh Mankotia while BJP was led by its secretary, Yudhvir Sethi.

Jammu State Morcha (JSM) leaders Prof Virender Gupta, H B Khajuria, Prof Divender Sharma, Nathu Ram Gupta and Chandra Uday Sharma have also strongly condemned the brutal use of force by Government against Baba Ramdev. Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) national president, Kundan Kashmiri and other leaders of the organization have also strongly condemned the attack on Baba and his supporters in Union Capital during the night of June 4 by police.

Prabandhak Coammittee Anantnag vice president Jai Kumar Bhat and Pt. Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust office bearers have also strongly condemned the attack on Baba. They criticized the police for not even sparing the women.

The activists of Patanjali Yog Peeth also sat on peaceful dharnas at Kathua and Udhampur.

Bar Association Poonch in its meeting today has extended full support to the Satyagrah launched by Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev against corruption and black money. The meeting, which was chaired by Sanjay Raina advocate also strongly condemned attack on Baba and his supporters.