HARIDWAR/DEHRADUN: With his health worsening, fasting yoga guru Baba Ramdev was Friday rushed to a Dehradun hospital's intensive care unit even as his close aides maintained he has not withdrawn his hunger strike against corruption, which entered its seventh day.
There were some efforts at persuading the yoga guru to break his fast with spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar making a plea.
Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily spoke to Sri Sri on behalf of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Alarmed at his worsening health condition, social activist Anna Hazare appealed to the central government to urge Ramdev break his fast.
Ramdev was taken to Jolly Grant Medical College in Dehradun in an ambulance from his fast site in Haridwar around 3 p.m.
"Baba Ramdev was taken to Dehradun for hospitalisation. He had agreed (to be taken to the hospital)," an official told IANS.
A panel of doctors monitoring his condition advised hospitalisation after he lost 1.5 kg weight in a single day and his pulse rate fell.
"If the pulse rate decreases further, it is a matter of concern," said Yogesh Kumar Sharma, chief medical officer in Haridwar.
"His urine examination showed the presence of albumin, which is a bad sign in terms of kidney functioning," he said.
Ramdev, who has been on a fast since June 4 when his rally at Delhi's Ramlila Ground was dispersed by the police in a midnight crackdown, had Thursday consumed lemonade and honey on the request of doctors.
Confirming Ramdev's hospitalisation, his spokesperson S.K. Tijarawala said: "Technically, the fast is on. He is determined to continue the fast. He fell unconscious on his way to the ICU."
R. Meenakshi Sundaram, district magistrate of Haridwar, said the guru was persuaded to be hospitalised.
"There was no force feeding. He voluntarily agreed. There was danger to his vital organs," the district magistrate said, adding that the yoga guru was given glucose in the ambulance through intravenous means.
A health bulletin on Ramdev issued by the Dehradun hospital in the evening said he was "stable and recovering."
In the health status report, doctors said Ramdev's blood pressure, respiration and heart beat were normal. His kidney function was normal, but there was some effect on his liver.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, after meeting Ramdev, told reporters that he had urged the yoga guru to end his fast. "I am confident he will heed to our request," he said.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank" said his government supported Ramdev in his fight against corruption and his demand for bringing back illegal money stashed abroad.
"If illegal money is brought back into India, it can be used for the development of the rural areas and villages and in people's welfare," he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also asked the government to announce effective measures to save Ramdev's life.
"The whole country is revolting against corruption, the government of India should not keep its ego first," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.
"They must announce some strong and effective action, his life is precious for the country," he said.
"Ramdev Baba is a respectable spiritual leader of our country, he has raised serious issues against corruption," Prasad added.