The weeklong news centering on Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and his ultimatum to the Government threatening to go ahead with his fast if his demands are not met, has taken the focus away from other issues facing the nation. The media has also found Ramdev and his agenda on black money to be worthy news material bored as it is with the usual everyday issues of price rise, farmers protest, environment degradation, terrorism etc. The Yoga Guru and his crusade against black money is therefore a heady cocktail that will make quite a spin on readers—after all they also want to read about something which is unusual—a yogic guru taking on the establishment on corruption and black money. If you will remember, Baba Ramdev was only recently here in Nagaland, propagating the benefits of yoga exercise. However his yoga journey across the country was more than just about health and exercise. Public perception seems to indicate that the Baba Ramdev has other agenda beyond yoga and black money. As such the midnight raid on the Ramlila grounds, in the National Capital Delhi, where Ramdev along with his supporters were evicted, goes to show that not everyone including within the government is convinced about the genuineness of the yoga guru’s crusade. Some may say that the UPA government at the Centre has taken a calculated risk by stopping the protest fast of the Baba. After all, this was not the case when it came to social activist Anna Hazare and his anti-corruption crusade.
It is obvious that the current establishment sees a major difference in the campaign of social activist Anna Hazare and yoga guru Baba Ramdev. And if it has enough evidence that the Baba’s crusade had to be stopped, it should tell the nation. In the meantime, the Opposition especially the BJP should go slow on its condemnation of the UPA government. As a political party, which has also governed the country, the BJP should realize that the rule of law must prevail and that no one can deviate from this, whether the government itself, political parties or even the civil society. While there is nothing wrong in a democratic protest and making genuine demands, the government is also not expected to bend backwards to accede to them swiftly and blindly without looking at the consequence. For instance, apparently one of the demands of Ramdev is to introduce capital punishment for the corrupt. He also wants the government to immediately demonetize currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000. Should the elected government simply say yes Baba and introduce capital punishment?
The political parties especially the BJP which is supporting the Baba should realize that a due process has to be followed. Laws cannot be simply enacted or changed. While the concern over corruption and black money is no doubt welcome, Baba Ramdev should not put the gun in the head of the government and make difficult demands. He should enter into a dialogue process quietly and properly without having to resort to public clamoring in front of a television audience. The BJP also must act more responsibly without always looking for sensationalism. If it is really concerned, as the principal Opposition party, it must work alongside the government and non-state actors like Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev to actually tackle the menace of corruption and black money, which is being rightly highlighted now by these concerned citizen groups. Viewing everything through the narrow prism of politics will not be helpful for anybody. What is required is honest appraisal, a dialogue mechanism, cooperation and the common vision and interest to eradicate corruption.
It is obvious that the current establishment sees a major difference in the campaign of social activist Anna Hazare and yoga guru Baba Ramdev. And if it has enough evidence that the Baba’s crusade had to be stopped, it should tell the nation. In the meantime, the Opposition especially the BJP should go slow on its condemnation of the UPA government. As a political party, which has also governed the country, the BJP should realize that the rule of law must prevail and that no one can deviate from this, whether the government itself, political parties or even the civil society. While there is nothing wrong in a democratic protest and making genuine demands, the government is also not expected to bend backwards to accede to them swiftly and blindly without looking at the consequence. For instance, apparently one of the demands of Ramdev is to introduce capital punishment for the corrupt. He also wants the government to immediately demonetize currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000. Should the elected government simply say yes Baba and introduce capital punishment?
The political parties especially the BJP which is supporting the Baba should realize that a due process has to be followed. Laws cannot be simply enacted or changed. While the concern over corruption and black money is no doubt welcome, Baba Ramdev should not put the gun in the head of the government and make difficult demands. He should enter into a dialogue process quietly and properly without having to resort to public clamoring in front of a television audience. The BJP also must act more responsibly without always looking for sensationalism. If it is really concerned, as the principal Opposition party, it must work alongside the government and non-state actors like Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev to actually tackle the menace of corruption and black money, which is being rightly highlighted now by these concerned citizen groups. Viewing everything through the narrow prism of politics will not be helpful for anybody. What is required is honest appraisal, a dialogue mechanism, cooperation and the common vision and interest to eradicate corruption.
