Apologise for action against Ramdev, BJP tells PM

Condemning the police action to disrupt Ramdev's agitation, BJP today sought to hold Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for it and announced a 24-hour stir across the country to protest it.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari said the "police crackdown" was reminiscent of the Emergency days and alleged that Congress was not ready to discuss corruption issue through democratic means like that period.

"The crackdown by police came on the orders of the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi. We strongly condemn it...The Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi must apologise to the people," Gadkari said addressing a press conference here.

The BJP chief also announced a 24-hour agitation at district level across the country in protest against the "police high-handedness."

Detailing the programme for the agitation, he said the party workers will hold satyagrah at Rajghat in Delhi whether or not government gives permission.

Replying to questions, he said the issue of corruption should not be politicised.

At the same time, he said it was BJP which had raised the issue of black money and corruption first and that it will support the organisations fighting against it.