As the saffron-robed Swami Ramdev, India's famous yoga guru, has pledged a hunger strike starting Saturday to protest against corruption, the government is trying to convince him otherwise.

The yoga guru is adamant despite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's appeal to call off the protest.

Ramdev’s daily TV show attracts more than 30 million viewers.

Ramdev will begin his fast on Saturday in New Delhi and reports say 10 million people will join his protest until the government agrees to pass an anti-corruption law.

However, Ramdev said his protest is apolitical, and some commentators said this kind of movement would gain little traction if it was not for the grassroots anger.

Less than a month ago, social activist Anna Hazare drove the entire nation to the brink of mass protests with his hunger strike in New Delhi.

You will never have this kind of mass movement for the wrong reasons, anti-corruption activist and former police officer Kiran Bedi told CNN-IBN.

One out of two Indians, according to surveys, is either a victim of corruption or perpetrator of corruption. Politicians fear that the outrage over the corruption scandals, rising food and fuel prices may turn into a national popular movement against the establishment.

Till recently, India has largely remained unaffected by the violent protests that have rocked the Middle East and North Africa over high prices and corruption.

Investors are also worried that the latest troubles will force the government to pay less attention to the reform bills like making it easier for industry to acquire land.

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