Kakinada, March 13: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Saturday demanded that the Central government withdraw currency notes of high denomination from circulation, particularly that of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000. He also demanded that an Act should be promulgated imposing either life imprisonment or death penalty to those who resort to print and circulate counterfeit currency.
Addressing the media after conducting a mega yoga camp and ayurveda camp here on the JNTU-K stadium, Baba Ramdev expressed anguish over the government for failing to put an end to black money. He said though the value of currency should not exceed two to four percent of the total assets of the nation, the case was totally different in India, where the value of currency was above 20 per cent.
“Most of the currency notes of higher denomination are being used for corrupt practices. Corruption is at its peak in the fields of politics, bureaucracy and corporate sector,” he said. Observing that lack of spiritual values among politicians was the main reason for the sorry state of affairs of the present day politics, Baba Ramdev said his ‘Bharat Swabhiman Yatra’ was aimed at propagating yoga and ayurveda in society.
Signature campaign
“Ill-health and poverty are the root-causes of the backwardness of our country. I have decided to put an end of ill-health by promoting ayurveda and corruption by launching a fight against black money,” he explained. Baba Ramdev said he had launched the yatra in Gujarat six months ago with an objective of covering all over India. “A signature campaign against black money is going on and we have already submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister,” he said. He felt that steps like seeking a ban on Swiss and Italy banks, publishing the names of corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and corporate people in a website and assuring transparency in services would help the government check corruption. Referring to politics, he said he would launch a political outfit in June and his aim was to make the nation free from ill-health and poverty.
Later, Baba Ramdev visited Sri Prakash Synergy School at Peddapuram and interacted with the students.
-Agencies