Indian TV evangelist launches political party

He's a TV guru who claims homosexuality is a disease and once promised to cure HIV and cancer with yogic breathing exercises. But that hasn't hurt his fan base–or his chances in Indian politics. 

That's right, folks. Baba Ramdev is poised to launch a political party and contest elections this year in Uttar Pradesh, reports India's CNN/IBN TV channel.

The evangelist has already started preaching, reports Times of India. 

At a recent rally in Arunachal Pradesh, he had this to say: "It's time to throw the Congress government out of power. The party has ruled the country for over 50 years. But what have we got except corruption? Everywhere we go, we come to know of more corruption and more scams… We need to cleanse the entire political system. I appeal to all of you to fight against corruption unitedly."

All well and good, but before he gets goes hammer and tongs after India's "black money", his Congress party rivals have asked him to prove that he's paid taxes on his own massive income, according to the Indian Express.