Ramdev courted arrest along with thousands of his supporters near the Ranjit Singh flyover, just a few metres away from the Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi, the venue of his fast protest since Thursday.
"Delhi Police is a puppet in the hands of the Central Government. We will not do anything that disrupts peace. We wanted to march towards Parliament in a peaceful manner to make our voices heard," he told his supporters before courting arrest.
"Our intention is not to disrupt peace. We will cooperate with the police and go according to the law. We have respect to the law of the land," he said before getting into a Delhi Transport Corporation bus which Delhi Police had brought to take him. He is being taken to Bawana on the outskirts of Delhi.
Holding the national tricolour, Ramdev hopped into a open vehicle from outside the Maidan in central Delhi and began his march at 1:15 PM. He was soon joined by thousands of his supporters.
"Let us start the march to Parliament. Our march is not to gherao Parliament. But to agitate. None of our volunteers should indulge in violence," he told his supporters before beginning his march.
Ten minutes into the march the cavalcade was stopped by Delhi Police near the flyover, saying that they do not have permission to march.
Heavy police presence could be seen outside Ramlila Maidan and Ranjit Singh Flyover, the route of the protest march.
Ramdev announced this morning that he and his supporters would march towards Parliament and hold an agitation outside the complex.(More)
