Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik

14 June 2012. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday extended support to yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s campaign against black money, on condition that the movement is conducted in Gandhian style.

Mr. Patnaik has an hour-long discussion with Baba Ramdev in presence of media. The yoga guru praised Mr. Patnaik for taking several steps against corruption.  Baba Ramdev said Odisha was the only state in the country which had set up three special courts in separate zones to deal with corruption. “Other states are talking about it, Naveenji has done it silently,” he said.

yoga guru Baba Ramdev

yoga guru Baba Ramdev

“We want pressure from political parties, people and all sections of society so that government will be compelled to retrieve Rs. 400 lakh crore black money,” Baba Ramdev said, adding the money should then be invested in agriculture, research and development and other welfare schemes.

The stage was set for a rally in Delhi on August 9 and it would continue till steps are taken to retrieve black money, he said.