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Indian yoga guru stable in hospital after health declined on 7th day of hunger strike

By: The Associated Press

Posted: 06/10/2011 3:32 AM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 06/10/2011 9:09 AM

Supporters of Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev perform a yagya, a religious Hindu ritual of prayer using fire, for the health of Ramdev at his ashram in Haridwar, India, Friday, June 10, 2011. Ramdev has continued his hunger strike for a seventh day despite doctors advising hospitalization because of loss of weight and dehydration. Ramdev's protest campaign is part of a public push to demand government accountability after a series of corruption scandals such as improper telecoms licensing, illegal land acquisitions and irregularities in staging last year's Commonwealth Games. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)

NEW DELHI - An Indian yoga guru was in stable condition at a hospital Friday after his health declined on the seventh day of a hunger strike against corruption, his spokesman and the hospital said.

Baba Ramdev had lost weight, was dehydraded and had a low pulse rate, so "doctors decided to shift him to a hospital" from his north Indian ashram in Haridwar, spokesman S.K. Tijarawala said.

He started his hunger strike in New Delhi to demand the return of billions of dollars stashed abroad illegally in tax havens by companies and wealthy Indians. A police raid evicted Ramdev and thousands of his followers from a park Sunday, injuring dozens and sparking enormous public outrage.

He continued his fast at his spiritual retreat, and hundreds of Ramdev's followers watched Friday as state authorities put him in an ambulance to go to a hospital in the nearby town of Dehradun.

Ramdev's condition has stabilized and he was fully conscious, said a bulletin issued by the Himalayan Hospital later Friday.

Yogesh Chandra Sharma, a senior doctor, earlier said that Baba Ramdev had lost 12 pounds (5.5 kilograms) since he started fasting. He also said Ramdev had low blood pressure.

Ramdev's protest is part of a public push to demand government accountability after a series of corruption scandals such as improper telecoms licensing, illegal land acquisitions and irregularities in staging last year's Commonwealth Games.

Ramdev had agreed to take lime water and honey, but he refused to end his hunger strike.

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