Indian yoga guru on hunger strike taken to hospital

[News_Editor]

Indian yoga guru on hunger strike taken to hospital

2011-06-10 23:20:11 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW DELHI (BNO NEWS) -- India's most popular yoga guru Ramdev was on Friday hospitalized in the Indian city of Dehradun after his health deteriorated on the seventh day of fast.

Press Trust of India reported that the 46-year-old yoga exponent was admitted to intensive care unit immediately after he was brought to the hospital. Ramdev's condition is now stable after doctors administered glucose.

"Ramdev's liver functions are slightly derailed but his kidney is functioning normally. He is conscious. He is being kept in a separate room and is being constantly monitored. His BP is 110/78 and pulse rate is 60. He is talking and there is no problem. His health is improving," Dr SL Jethani, medical superintendent of Himalayan Hospital, Jolly Grant, said.

The popular yoga guru began his anti-corruption hunger strike on Saturday after a two-hour yoga practice along with thousands of his followers in New Delhi. Tens of thousands of Ramdev's followers also went on hunger strike in Mumbai, Jammu and some other cities in solidarity with him.

The yoga guru wants to repatriate Indian illicit funds supposedly stashed away in offshore banks. Ramdev has said that this 'black money' suspected of being funds paid for bribes or other illegal transactions and stashed away to evade taxes could provide a huge boost to the Indian economy.

His other proposals also include introducing the death penalty for corrupt officials and dispose of graft lawsuits within one year.

Some of Ramdev's supporters protested the Haridwar district administration's move to transfer him to a hospital. Some protestors even clashed with police when the yoga guru was being carried on a stretcher.

Earlier on Friday, the doctors attending on him had sent in a recommendation for his hospitalization as they had found him suffering from dehydration and had advised him to break his fast, which was rejected by the yoga exponent.

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