Baba Ramdev meets Babu, gets TDP support

HYDERABAD: Yoga guru and crusader against corruption Baba Ramdev has succeeded in winning the support of the Telugu Desam in his mission to make the country corruption- free. Ramdev called on TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu at the latter’s residence here on Tuesday and sought his party’s support in and outside Parliament to his fight against corruption, especially when the Lokpal bill is introduced in the forthcoming session. Naidu responded positively and said his party would extend all help to the Baba in his mission.Talking with reporters later, Ramdev made it clear that he would not launch any political party but seek the support of politicians to make the country corruption- free. “I do not want political power. I want purity in politics and decided to bring about a change in the corrupt political system,” he declared.“The black money stashed in tax havens should be brought back. Black money and corruption are responsible for poverty and other problems. Value-based politics is the need of the hour. I want India to be healthy and wealthy.’’ Since any change in the current political system was possible only with the involvement of political parties, he said he was meeting and seeking the support of political parties across the country. “My doors are open for good leaders in the Congress.There may be good persons in the Congress, BJP or any other party. They are most welcome to support me,” he said and appealed to all political parties to raise their voice against corruption during the debate on Lokpal Bill in Parliament.Asked about the cases slapped on his aide Balakrishna, Ramdev said he was not cowed down by such acts of intimidation. “The CBI does good work sometimes but goes after those who talk against the government,’’ he remarked.Chandrababu Naidu declared that the TDP would stand by Baba Ramdev and demanded that the Centre stop victimising the anticorruption crusader. “The TDP will be with you. We will fight against corruption,” Naidu assured Ramdev.Party MPs MV Mysoora Reddy, Nama Nageswara Rao and Ramesh Rathod were present at the meeting.