New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS): Back at the Ramlila Maidan, yoga guru Baba Ramdev Thursday announced a three-day fast against corruption and black money and said the government would have to give in to the demand for a stringent Lokpal bill.
Addressing thousands of supporters at the sprawling ground here, Ramdev said: "The fight for Lokpal is not over. A strong Lokpal will have to be given to the people of India.
"The Lokpal bill should not be the government's version which will be weak," he added.
"We will be holding a three-day symbolic fast as part of the first phase of our protest. If the government does not listen to our demands, I will announce our future strategy on Aug 12. We will not end our fast till our demands are met," he said.
Ramdev said he was not against any political party and was not interested in dislodging anyone.
"My doors are open to all political parties. My doors are also open to Sonia Gandhi (Congress president). I am not here to dislodge anyone from power," he said.
Holding tricolours, thousands of Ramdev supporters packed the Ramlila Maidan.
He appealed to them to take out peaceful yatras and candle marches all over the country.
Before coming to Ramlila ground, Ramdev paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh at Rajghat and Shaheedi Park respectively.
Delhi Police have given the organisers permission to host 30,000 people a day. The yoga guru has been allowed to hold the ground till Aug 30.
Thursday marks the 70th anniversary of the Quit India movement.
A similar show a year ago at the Ramlila grounds ended in violence and the death of a woman.
Six days ago, on Aug 3, Anna Hazare and his team members ended their fast for a stringent Jan Lokpal bill. Hazare disbanded Team Anna Aug 6.