Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev arrives to address the media at his ashram in Haridwar on June 5. (AP Photo)
New Delhi, June 5 (PTI): Hours after 46-year-old Ramdev was bundled out to Dehradun after he was picked up by the police in a pre-dawn swoop, the government also firmly ruled out any further talks with the yoga guru on the demands raised by him. “There is nothing left to discuss (with Ramdev). On what issue we will talk. Whatever talks had to happen have already happened,” Union Minister Subodhkant Sahay, involved in negotiations with the yoga guru, told reporters here.
Highly-placed government sources said the decision to remove Baba Ramdev from the agitation site was taken at 5 p.m. on Saturday when it became clear that he was not going to end his fast as promised by him. Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were fully in the loop and the decision to act against Baba Ramdev was with their consent, the sources said.
The decision was taken after all efforts to cajole the yoga guru failed and he refused to accept the “practical steps” advocated by the government on his demand for bringing back black money, the sources said. With the number of people swelling by the hour at the protest site, the Government was also worried about the possibility of terrorists mingling in the large congregation and triggering an explosion.
Baba Ramdev was given a final chance at around 4 p.m. when the government sent a letter stating that actions are being taken by it on his demands against black money and corruption and wanted him to abide by his assurance of calling off the fast. The yoga guru first wanted an hour’s time, but at around 5 p.m. announced that his indefinite fast would continue.
At this stage, the Government felt that there was no use in continuing with the negotiations with Baba Ramdev as he was raising fresh demands and not abiding by his assurance given in writing by his close aide. The Government was left with no other option but to take action, the sources said. On a day of high drama, the BJP and other opposition parties attacked the Government which also fielded several senior ministers to slam Baba Ramdev.
Union Minister Kapil Sibal made it clear that the action had the full backing of the government and the party. To a question on whether the action had the endorsement of the party, he said: “Absolutely 100 per cent. No such action takes place without 100 per cent unity in the government and the party.”
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who led the negotiations on behalf of the government, termed the developments as “unfortunate” and said had Baba Ramdev had stuck to his word, this would not have happened. Rejecting BJP’s allegations that the action against Baba Ramdev was reminiscent of the Emergency, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the Government had to act as the yoga guru did not see reason.
“He didn’t see reason and the government had to act,” he said adding, “It was not a crackdown, we had to do it to maintain law and order“. Mr. Sibal said there were apprehensions about law and order situation in Delhi as the yoga guru had collected 50,000 people for “political aasan” (manoeuver) although he had sought permission for a yoga camp for a gathering of 5,000 only. “It was not a yoga platform, but a political platform,” he said while questioning the presence of Sadhvi Ritambhara in his protest.
Highly-placed government sources said the decision to remove Baba Ramdev from the agitation site was taken at 5 p.m. on Saturday when it became clear that he was not going to end his fast as promised by him. Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were fully in the loop and the decision to act against Baba Ramdev was with their consent, the sources said.
The decision was taken after all efforts to cajole the yoga guru failed and he refused to accept the “practical steps” advocated by the government on his demand for bringing back black money, the sources said. With the number of people swelling by the hour at the protest site, the Government was also worried about the possibility of terrorists mingling in the large congregation and triggering an explosion.
Baba Ramdev was given a final chance at around 4 p.m. when the government sent a letter stating that actions are being taken by it on his demands against black money and corruption and wanted him to abide by his assurance of calling off the fast. The yoga guru first wanted an hour’s time, but at around 5 p.m. announced that his indefinite fast would continue.
At this stage, the Government felt that there was no use in continuing with the negotiations with Baba Ramdev as he was raising fresh demands and not abiding by his assurance given in writing by his close aide. The Government was left with no other option but to take action, the sources said. On a day of high drama, the BJP and other opposition parties attacked the Government which also fielded several senior ministers to slam Baba Ramdev.
Union Minister Kapil Sibal made it clear that the action had the full backing of the government and the party. To a question on whether the action had the endorsement of the party, he said: “Absolutely 100 per cent. No such action takes place without 100 per cent unity in the government and the party.”
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who led the negotiations on behalf of the government, termed the developments as “unfortunate” and said had Baba Ramdev had stuck to his word, this would not have happened. Rejecting BJP’s allegations that the action against Baba Ramdev was reminiscent of the Emergency, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the Government had to act as the yoga guru did not see reason.
“He didn’t see reason and the government had to act,” he said adding, “It was not a crackdown, we had to do it to maintain law and order“. Mr. Sibal said there were apprehensions about law and order situation in Delhi as the yoga guru had collected 50,000 people for “political aasan” (manoeuver) although he had sought permission for a yoga camp for a gathering of 5,000 only. “It was not a yoga platform, but a political platform,” he said while questioning the presence of Sadhvi Ritambhara in his protest.
Ramdev targets govt, Sonia, threatens nationwide stir
HARIDWAR, June 5 (PTI): Angry at the disruption of his hunger strike, Baba Ramdev on Sunday lashed out at the government and targeted Sonia Gandhi over the “police barbarism” on his supporters while threatening a nationwide agitation.
Terming police action on women and children at Ramlila ground as a “blot to democracy”, he claimed that there was a conspiracy by the Centre to get him killed and a threat was issued to him during a meeting with senior ministers.
Ramdev, who was detained in a dramatic fashion at his rally before being flown here from Delhi, appeared shaken and upset, often nearing tears as he narrated the developments of the midnight crackdown on his followers.
“The barbarism and atrocities inflicted by police on one lakh people crossed all limits...such atrocities were not seen elsewhere other than in China where thousands were killed, he said, apparently referring to the Tiananmen Square massacre.
“The satyagraha has not ended...The government must answer. We will go door-to-door in every village across the nation to talk about the barbarism of this government. We will again go to Delhi or if there is conspiracy to oppress us, we may sit on satyagraha at a place near Delhi,” Ramdev said. Attacking Sonia, he said: “She is running government by remote-control. She is daughter-in-law of this country ...she does not love the mothers and sisters of this country.”
Ramdev also said if anything happens to him, Sonia and Congress government will be responsible “the government, especially the Congress, do not want to see me alive as my movement can expose their black deeds,” he said.
Terming police action on women and children at Ramlila ground as a “blot to democracy”, he claimed that there was a conspiracy by the Centre to get him killed and a threat was issued to him during a meeting with senior ministers.
Ramdev, who was detained in a dramatic fashion at his rally before being flown here from Delhi, appeared shaken and upset, often nearing tears as he narrated the developments of the midnight crackdown on his followers.
“The barbarism and atrocities inflicted by police on one lakh people crossed all limits...such atrocities were not seen elsewhere other than in China where thousands were killed, he said, apparently referring to the Tiananmen Square massacre.
“The satyagraha has not ended...The government must answer. We will go door-to-door in every village across the nation to talk about the barbarism of this government. We will again go to Delhi or if there is conspiracy to oppress us, we may sit on satyagraha at a place near Delhi,” Ramdev said. Attacking Sonia, he said: “She is running government by remote-control. She is daughter-in-law of this country ...she does not love the mothers and sisters of this country.”
Ramdev also said if anything happens to him, Sonia and Congress government will be responsible “the government, especially the Congress, do not want to see me alive as my movement can expose their black deeds,” he said.
Civil society members to boycott Lokpal meet
New Delhi, June 5 (AGENCIES): The five civil society members of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee have decided to boycott the meeting of the panel on Monday in New Delhi. The decision to boycott the meeting comes just a few hours after the crackdown by Delhi Police on Baba Ramdev and his supporters, who were protesting against corruption and the issue of black money, at Delhi’s Ramlila Ground on the intervening night of June 4-5.
Several civil society members and social activists have strongly condemned the crackdown on Ramdev and his supporters and their forceful eviction. Veteran Gandhian and Lokpal Bill drafting committee member Anna Hazare, whose four-day long fast in April against corruption forced the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government to form the panel, called it an undemocratic action.
“What the Government has done is a blot on democracy. There was no need for the Government to suppress this movement and attack those protesting at midnight. It was not right to lathicharge the people at midnight Small children and women were brutally assaulted. The entire country should stand up as one and protest against this brutal and inhuman action,” said Hazare.
New Delhi, June 5 (AGENCIES): The five civil society members of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee have decided to boycott the meeting of the panel on Monday in New Delhi. The decision to boycott the meeting comes just a few hours after the crackdown by Delhi Police on Baba Ramdev and his supporters, who were protesting against corruption and the issue of black money, at Delhi’s Ramlila Ground on the intervening night of June 4-5.
Several civil society members and social activists have strongly condemned the crackdown on Ramdev and his supporters and their forceful eviction. Veteran Gandhian and Lokpal Bill drafting committee member Anna Hazare, whose four-day long fast in April against corruption forced the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government to form the panel, called it an undemocratic action.
“What the Government has done is a blot on democracy. There was no need for the Government to suppress this movement and attack those protesting at midnight. It was not right to lathicharge the people at midnight Small children and women were brutally assaulted. The entire country should stand up as one and protest against this brutal and inhuman action,” said Hazare.
