Washington: Hundreds of Indian-Americans in cities across the United States on Saturday started meetings and observed fast in support of the anti-corruption crusade launched by yoga guru Baba Ramdev in New Delhi.
Baba Ramdev solidarity meetings are being held in some two dozen cities across the US, according to latest news reports coming from the organizers, Bharat Swabhiman Overseas (BSO), a US-based organization which supports the ideology and goal of the Indian guru.
"The purpose is to support the great movement which is going on in India this time against corruption," said Dr Bhishma Agnihotri, the former Ambassador-at-Large of India.
Brushing aside government's persuasion, 46-year-old Ramdev began his indefinite hunger strike at New Delhi's Ramlila Maidan demanding repatriation of black money stashed away abroad as thousands of followers joined him in the protest across India.
President of BSO, Agnihotri today travelled from Batan Rouge in Louisiana to Huston in Texas to attend the main event.
In Fairfax, Virginia, a suburb of Washington several hundred people are expected to gather late in the afternoon to listen to the video message of Ramdev.
"People would listen to his message in the fight against corruption," said Shardanand, one of the organizers.
"Purpose is to tell that we people living in the US have equal stake in what is going inside India. We are embarrassed by what is going on in India," Agnihotri said.
"Now, the corruption has gone beyond control," he underlined, adding that more and more Indian-Americans are joining this movement against corruption in India.
While yoga is the hallmark of all these meetings across the US, besides giving speeches and listening to the video message of Ramdev, people also held devotional programme and fasting during the day in Ramdev's support.
In California, nearly dozen organizations announced to hold a meeting in Fremont to show solidarity with Ramdev's anti-corruption movement.
Many of them announced that they would hold fast. Every one registering for the event would receive yoga DVD of Ramdev.
Similar meetings and fast are being planned in Washington, New York, Houston, Tampa, New Jersey and Los Angeles.
"The issues of Black money, corruption and fast justice against corruption, the legacy of unjust laws, economic and education system left over from the British Raj even after 63 years of independence taken by Swamiji are of utmost importance to Bharat," said Ramesh Bhutada, a Houston-based businessman and trustee for Patanjali Yogpeeth (USA).
"Resolution of these issues will make India shine all over the world and in a true sense will be even able to guide the world in the coming decades," he underlined.
"Not only we but our children and grandchildren will be proud of our mother country and will be interested in imbibing the best in our culture and heritage," Bhutada said in a statement.
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