'Ramdev not close to RSS'

Kolkata, April 13 (IANS) Denying that yoga guru Baba Ramdev is close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), his close aide Balkrishna said Friday he had never joined hands with the Sangh for any political campaign or promoted any of its programmes.

"We have not till date joined hand with RSS for any political campaign....We also did not support any programme of it," Balkrishna told reporters on the sidelines of a programme here.

"Many Muslims and Christians are associated with Bharat Swabhiman (Trust). Patanjali Yogpeeth (Ashram in Haridwar) is a living place of worship for people belonging to all religions," he said.

Lok Janshakti Party president Ramvilas Paswan recently accused Ramdev of "sitting on RSS lap".

"Ramdev Baba was quite good when he was a yoga guru ... Now he has diverted his attention," Paswan had told mediapersons in Patna.

The Congress has also dubbed Ramdev an a RSS proxy.

Balkrishna, however, said they were not fighting against the government but were carrying out a tirade against corruption and black money.

"We are not fighting against the government, but the government is fighting against us. We are fighting against issues like corruption and black money," he said.

Ramdev is to hold a one-day dharna in Delhi June 3 on the anniversary of the midnight crackdown at Ramlila Maidan last year.

"It will be a nationwide stir...Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Annaji (Anna Hazare) will join us," the close aide of Ramdev said.