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Yoga guru 'detained at Heathrow' | Yoga guru 'detained at Heathrow' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A spiritual leader who was due to lead a 1,500-strong yoga class was detained at Heathrow airport for eight hours, his supporters have said. | A spiritual leader who was due to lead a 1,500-strong yoga class was detained at Heathrow airport for eight hours, his supporters have said. |
Swami Ramdevji, 47, who is also known as Baba Ramdev, was expected to lead the class in Glasgow on Monday. | Swami Ramdevji, 47, who is also known as Baba Ramdev, was expected to lead the class in Glasgow on Monday. |
But his supporters said he was stopped at Heathrow Airport on Friday. | But his supporters said he was stopped at Heathrow Airport on Friday. |
Ramdevji was given a 24-hour visa and instructed to return to Terminal Five on Saturday afternoon, when supporters fear he will be told to leave. | Ramdevji was given a 24-hour visa and instructed to return to Terminal Five on Saturday afternoon, when supporters fear he will be told to leave. |
He arrived at the airport on Saturday with Leicester East MP Keith Vaz and was mobbed by more than 150 supporters. | |
In the melee the Baba, dressed in sandals and an orange robe, nearly lost his clothing. | |
He addressed the throng in Hindi before he and Mr Vaz met the chief immigration official. | |
Mr Vaz said: "What has happened is not acceptable. | |
"No reason was given for him being held but we will find out what happened." | |
Supporters claimed he could have been targeted by the Indian authorities for speaking out about corruption back home. | |
The organisers of his visit said they had contacted Hindu temples throughout the UK asking for people to protest at the airport against the move. | The organisers of his visit said they had contacted Hindu temples throughout the UK asking for people to protest at the airport against the move. |
Worldwide following | Worldwide following |
Ramdevji reportedly has an 85 million-strong worldwide following and his own television channel in India. | Ramdevji reportedly has an 85 million-strong worldwide following and his own television channel in India. |
He has run prominent campaigns in India, including hunger strikes, protesting against corruption in government. | He has run prominent campaigns in India, including hunger strikes, protesting against corruption in government. |
A trust run by Ramdevji bought the island of Little Cumbrae just off the coast of Largs in south west Scotland and established it as a yoga centre two years ago. | A trust run by Ramdevji bought the island of Little Cumbrae just off the coast of Largs in south west Scotland and established it as a yoga centre two years ago. |
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We would not comment on individual cases." | A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We would not comment on individual cases." |
Media reports in India said Ramdevji was detained because he arrived at Heathrow on a visitor's visa instead of a business visa. | Media reports in India said Ramdevji was detained because he arrived at Heathrow on a visitor's visa instead of a business visa. |
His spokesman SK Tejarawala was reported as saying: "It was not clear why the yoga guru was detained for over six hours at Heathrow. He was not carrying anything with him except a small bag of personal effects. | His spokesman SK Tejarawala was reported as saying: "It was not clear why the yoga guru was detained for over six hours at Heathrow. He was not carrying anything with him except a small bag of personal effects. |
"It is for the British authorities to explain why he was detained." | "It is for the British authorities to explain why he was detained." |