Ramdev fasts; govt bends to demands
New Delhi: India’s most popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev began his fast-unto-death on Saturday, while the government agreed to declare black money as ‘national asset’.
The fast-unto-death began sharp 7 am at the Ramlila Maidan here, where thousands of supporters joined Ramdev and many more are expected throughout the day.
Ramdev took a two-hour break on Saturday afternoon and held a meeting with government representatives on related issues.
After the meeting, while Ramdev claimed his victory is nearing. He said the government has agreed to his demands on phone and he is waiting for a written assurance.
"We had demanded that the government should declare black money as national asset and should declare stashing of illegal money abroad as sedition... government has agreed to all our demands," Ramdev told reporters.
"The agreement has been on phone as of now and when it is provided to me in written I shall call off the fast," he said.
Union Human Resources Development minister Kapil Sibal said the government is ready to declare black money as national asset.
“We told Baba Ramdevji that the government is ready to declare black money as national asset. We would come out with a report on black money within six months,” Sibal said at a press conference.
However, according to sources, the government has turned firm on Ramdev’s demands saying despite an agreement between them, the yoga guru had gone for a fast.
Meanwhile, the Congress sharpened its attack on Ramdev and said his ‘crusade’ is not an apolitical one as it is being promoted by saffron parties like Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).
"It is most unfortunate that this common crusade against corruption is allowed to be remotedly controlled or hijacked by vested political interests. The nation is aghast to see that BJP, RSS and their frontal organisations, which have repeatedly failed to get popular mandate, are trying to destabilise the government," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.
"By conceiving, controlling and coordinating the movement like the one at Ramlila Maidan, they are destabilising not only the government but the nation", he said.
"What is Sadhvi Rithambara doing there? You will find sympathisers of RSS and BJP there at Ramlila Maidan and supporting this movement,” he said.
"Apart from private jets, there have been transportation arrangements and five-star facilities in the name of fast. There is a mini-city within city. Who is financing these logistical operations?"
“We want to solve the problem but we don't want any unreasonable and undemocratic steps to be taken,” said Singhvi.
Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh slammed Ramdev for his "five-star satyagraha" and said he is being sponsored by saffron groups likeRashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).
“What kind of satyagraha is this of a Baba who travels in a jet? Ramdev is on a five-star satyagraha. Now it is absolutely clear as to what are the credentials of Baba Ramdev. He is now openly supported by RSS BJP and VHP," Singh told reporters.
"He has got five-star tents put up with all facilities. And he is doing satyagraha on issues, which he doesn't know," he said.
"The whole satyagraha is not something what the satyagraha Mahatma Gandhi meant. This is five-star satyagraha for which crores of Rupees have been spent in creating air conditioned pandal," he said.
“This drama is totally engineered by RSS and VHP to divert people's attention from Sanghi terror. RSS and VHP are trying to undo the Constitution and Parliamentary democracy by encouraging people like Baba Ramdev to go on such fast,” said Singh.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Ramdev’s fast is ‘unrealistic’.
"Concerns about corruption and black money are legitimate concerns. I am not sure how going on a hunger strike is going to deliver immediate results," Omar told reporters in Srinagar.
"It is not like Government of India is going to snap its fingers and all the black money will come back... nor can the 500 and 1000 rupee notes demonetised immediately. The death penalty is something I believe is unviable," he said.
"I am not sure how long Baba Ramdev plans to stay hungry since he has said he will end it only after his demands are met. It might be a pretty long wait for him," he said.
Reacting to criticisms on his fast, Ramdev said: "I am listening to the comments of some people since morning. We have people from all religion and community on this stage. But, those who are criticising us need some mental checkup as they are ignorance about this fact."
"There are attempts to threaten me. Some people are making irresponsible remarks like Baba wants to create instability. I did not bring discord between Hindus and Muslims or on the lines of caste or region. Here I am not representing any political party. Some people are saying Baba is RSS and BJP’s agent I am not from any political party. I am the agent of 121 crore Indians."
"In this fight for truth, I will not attack first but I will not sit back if I am attacked. I will reply," he said.
"People have spent their money for this pandal... would it have been proper if so many people are forced to sit in the sun in this heat? This was needed in this high temperature and whatever was spent on this arrangement is done by these common man and they are ready to do more. I have answered to all who are raising questions about this.”
The yoga guru said he is following directions of God.
“I don’t have a scriptwriter or a director. I take directions directly from God. I do what He tells me to do,” Ramdev said.
“The Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) is a man of integrity. If all my demands are accepted, credit will go to honest the Prime Minster and his government. I have not come here for getting any job or reservation. I have not come here to beg. I am seeking what is the right of this country.”
"I have written letter to the Prime Minister. I have not targeted any party. It's not correct to say I want to create instability in the country. In my letters to the PM I have clarified everything. I will never accept any political post and will never contest election," Ramdev said.
Asked if Gandhian social activist Anna Hazare will join him, Ramdev said: "I do not want to comment anything about Anna Hazare. We will continue to support him."
Earlier on Saturday, Hazare said he is yet to take a final decision on joining Baba.
"I am yet to take a final decision on joining Baba. I am going to Delhi tomorrow and then I will discuss about how to go ahead with the satyagraha,” Hazare told reporters in Pune.
However, the civil society is backing Ramdev in his mission.
“I support Baba Ramdev's campaign,” said Lokpal panel member Santosh Hegde.
“Ramdev, Anna share the same cause,” said former IPS officer and social activist Kiran Bedi.
Meanwhile, Congress president Sonia Gandhi calls meeting of senior party leaders to discuss Ramdev’s fast.
At Ramlila Maidan, former Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Sadhvi Ritambara and other religious leaders from Sikh, Jain and Muslim communities were seen sharing the stage with Ramdev.
Ridambhara praised Ramdev and said: "If there were more Vallabbhai Patels, then there was no need for a sanyasi to sit on satyagraha."
Supporting Ramdev, Maulvi Rizvi said "This is not Muallah Omar's Taliban. This is Hindustan."
Ramdev pepped up his fasting followers and said the hunger strike will benefit his obese devotees to cut down flab.
"Hamara mota bhai aur moti baheno ke liye yeh satyagrah health benefits dega aur desh ke liye wealth mil jayega" (The hunger strike will help slim my fat brothers and sisters, while it will also bring wealth to the country),” the yoga guru said.
One of his followers handed him a Rs 11 lakh cheque to support his mission.
Showing the cheque to a massive gathering, Ramdev said: “This is not black money.”
Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tiwari became the first celebrity to join Ramdev. He said he has cancelled his shootings for a month to stay with Ramdev during his hunger strike.
He was seen singing bhajans like 'Raghupati Raghav Rajaram' (a Mahatma Gandhi favourite) and patriotic songs on the stage.
Before launching the “satyagraha against corruption”, Ramdev held a yoga and bhajan session during which he told the gathering that his protest intended to “save the country from corruption and ensure that the poor get a good life.”
“Nothing is impossible, everything is possible and we are not going to be defeated,” he said, after he appeared on stage at 4:50 am and was greeted by a huge round of applause from his applause.
Ramdev also said there was a conspiracy against him that ‘failed’ as it was revealed on the ‘right time’.
"I will certainly not talk about all issues today, there was a conspiracy but it has failed. What was the conspiracy, I will not say today. When the right time comes, I will say," Ramdev said.
The strike to bring back what Ramdev calls “national asset” began after even four hours of talks with top ministers of the Indian government at a five star hotel failed to win him over. However negotiations and “back channel” talks were expected to continue even as the fast went ahead.
"What will India get from this protest? India will be saved now... People will get an opportunity for the first time that in all government professional colleges one can carry on the studies in his mother tongue," he said.
Union Ministers Kapil Sibal and Subodh Kant Sahay met Baba Ramdev on Friday but failed to arrive at a solution as the yoga guru appeared before his followers at Ramlila ground and announced: "The hunger strike will begin and continue till our demands are met."
"Bharat Mata ki jai [Hail the motherland]" he hollered and his followers echoed.
Some media reports said the Prime Minister is approaching the President of India on the crisis.
Ramdev said the "satyagraha" will continue because it is important to save the country from corruption. He said there would be no revolt against any political party but a peaceful movement and hunger strike will continue.
He also warned the government not to try to suppress the movement which he promised will be peaceful.
The yoga guru wants Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government take concrete steps towards repatriating illicit funds of the Indian rich, estimated by him to be around Rs 400 lakh crore, stashed away in offshore banks to avoid taxes.
For the last three days, the government scrambled to win over Ramdev, clearly apprehensive of having a second anti-graft mass protest in two months take shots at its already battered public approval, as it held frantic negotiations with the Baba and his associates.
New Delhi: India’s most popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev began his fast-unto-death on Saturday, while the government agreed to declare black money as ‘national asset’.
The fast-unto-death began sharp 7 am at the Ramlila Maidan here, where thousands of supporters joined Ramdev and many more are...
New Delhi: India’s most popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev began his fast-unto-death on Saturday, while the government agreed to declare black money as ‘national asset’.
The fast-unto-death began sharp 7 am at the Ramlila Maidan here, where thousands of supporters joined Ramdev and many more are expected throughout the day.
Ramdev took a two-hour break on Saturday afternoon and held a meeting with government representatives on related issues.
After the meeting, while Ramdev claimed his victory is nearing. He said the government has agreed to his demands on phone and he is waiting for a written assurance.
"We had demanded that the government should declare black money as national asset and should declare stashing of illegal money abroad as sedition... government has agreed to all our demands," Ramdev told reporters.
"The agreement has been on phone as of now and when it is provided to me in written I shall call off the fast," he said.
Union Human Resources Development minister Kapil Sibal said the government is ready to declare black money as national asset.
“We told Baba Ramdevji that the government is ready to declare black money as national asset. We would come out with a report on black money within six months,” Sibal said at a press conference.
However, according to sources, the government has turned firm on Ramdev’s demands saying despite an agreement between them, the yoga guru had gone for a fast.
Meanwhile, the Congress sharpened its attack on Ramdev and said his ‘crusade’ is not an apolitical one as it is being promoted by saffron parties like Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).
"It is most unfortunate that this common crusade against corruption is allowed to be remotedly controlled or hijacked by vested political interests. The nation is aghast to see that BJP, RSS and their frontal organisations, which have repeatedly failed to get popular mandate, are trying to destabilise the government," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.
"By conceiving, controlling and coordinating the movement like the one at Ramlila Maidan, they are destabilising not only the government but the nation", he said.
"What is Sadhvi Rithambara doing there? You will find sympathisers of RSS and BJP there at Ramlila Maidan and supporting this movement,” he said.
"Apart from private jets, there have been transportation arrangements and five-star facilities in the name of fast. There is a mini-city within city. Who is financing these logistical operations?"
“We want to solve the problem but we don't want any unreasonable and undemocratic steps to be taken,” said Singhvi.
Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh slammed Ramdev for his "five-star satyagraha" and said he is being sponsored by saffron groups likeRashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).
“What kind of satyagraha is this of a Baba who travels in a jet? Ramdev is on a five-star satyagraha. Now it is absolutely clear as to what are the credentials of Baba Ramdev. He is now openly supported by RSS BJP and VHP," Singh told reporters.
"He has got five-star tents put up with all facilities. And he is doing satyagraha on issues, which he doesn't know," he said.
"The whole satyagraha is not something what the satyagraha Mahatma Gandhi meant. This is five-star satyagraha for which crores of Rupees have been spent in creating air conditioned pandal," he said.
“This drama is totally engineered by RSS and VHP to divert people's attention from Sanghi terror. RSS and VHP are trying to undo the Constitution and Parliamentary democracy by encouraging people like Baba Ramdev to go on such fast,” said Singh.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Ramdev’s fast is ‘unrealistic’.
"Concerns about corruption and black money are legitimate concerns. I am not sure how going on a hunger strike is going to deliver immediate results," Omar told reporters in Srinagar.
"It is not like Government of India is going to snap its fingers and all the black money will come back... nor can the 500 and 1000 rupee notes demonetised immediately. The death penalty is something I believe is unviable," he said.
"I am not sure how long Baba Ramdev plans to stay hungry since he has said he will end it only after his demands are met. It might be a pretty long wait for him," he said.
Reacting to criticisms on his fast, Ramdev said: "I am listening to the comments of some people since morning. We have people from all religion and community on this stage. But, those who are criticising us need some mental checkup as they are ignorance about this fact."
"There are attempts to threaten me. Some people are making irresponsible remarks like Baba wants to create instability. I did not bring discord between Hindus and Muslims or on the lines of caste or region. Here I am not representing any political party. Some people are saying Baba is RSS and BJP’s agent I am not from any political party. I am the agent of 121 crore Indians."
"In this fight for truth, I will not attack first but I will not sit back if I am attacked. I will reply," he said.
"People have spent their money for this pandal... would it have been proper if so many people are forced to sit in the sun in this heat? This was needed in this high temperature and whatever was spent on this arrangement is done by these common man and they are ready to do more. I have answered to all who are raising questions about this.”
The yoga guru said he is following directions of God.
“I don’t have a scriptwriter or a director. I take directions directly from God. I do what He tells me to do,” Ramdev said.
“The Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) is a man of integrity. If all my demands are accepted, credit will go to honest the Prime Minster and his government. I have not come here for getting any job or reservation. I have not come here to beg. I am seeking what is the right of this country.”
"I have written letter to the Prime Minister. I have not targeted any party. It's not correct to say I want to create instability in the country. In my letters to the PM I have clarified everything. I will never accept any political post and will never contest election," Ramdev said.
Asked if Gandhian social activist Anna Hazare will join him, Ramdev said: "I do not want to comment anything about Anna Hazare. We will continue to support him."
Earlier on Saturday, Hazare said he is yet to take a final decision on joining Baba.
"I am yet to take a final decision on joining Baba. I am going to Delhi tomorrow and then I will discuss about how to go ahead with the satyagraha,” Hazare told reporters in Pune.
However, the civil society is backing Ramdev in his mission.
“I support Baba Ramdev's campaign,” said Lokpal panel member Santosh Hegde.
“Ramdev, Anna share the same cause,” said former IPS officer and social activist Kiran Bedi.
Meanwhile, Congress president Sonia Gandhi calls meeting of senior party leaders to discuss Ramdev’s fast.
At Ramlila Maidan, former Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Sadhvi Ritambara and other religious leaders from Sikh, Jain and Muslim communities were seen sharing the stage with Ramdev.
Ridambhara praised Ramdev and said: "If there were more Vallabbhai Patels, then there was no need for a sanyasi to sit on satyagraha."
Supporting Ramdev, Maulvi Rizvi said "This is not Muallah Omar's Taliban. This is Hindustan."
Ramdev pepped up his fasting followers and said the hunger strike will benefit his obese devotees to cut down flab.
"Hamara mota bhai aur moti baheno ke liye yeh satyagrah health benefits dega aur desh ke liye wealth mil jayega" (The hunger strike will help slim my fat brothers and sisters, while it will also bring wealth to the country),” the yoga guru said.
One of his followers handed him a Rs 11 lakh cheque to support his mission.
Showing the cheque to a massive gathering, Ramdev said: “This is not black money.”
Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tiwari became the first celebrity to join Ramdev. He said he has cancelled his shootings for a month to stay with Ramdev during his hunger strike.
He was seen singing bhajans like 'Raghupati Raghav Rajaram' (a Mahatma Gandhi favourite) and patriotic songs on the stage.
Before launching the “satyagraha against corruption”, Ramdev held a yoga and bhajan session during which he told the gathering that his protest intended to “save the country from corruption and ensure that the poor get a good life.”
“Nothing is impossible, everything is possible and we are not going to be defeated,” he said, after he appeared on stage at 4:50 am and was greeted by a huge round of applause from his applause.
Ramdev also said there was a conspiracy against him that ‘failed’ as it was revealed on the ‘right time’.
"I will certainly not talk about all issues today, there was a conspiracy but it has failed. What was the conspiracy, I will not say today. When the right time comes, I will say," Ramdev said.
The strike to bring back what Ramdev calls “national asset” began after even four hours of talks with top ministers of the Indian government at a five star hotel failed to win him over. However negotiations and “back channel” talks were expected to continue even as the fast went ahead.
"What will India get from this protest? India will be saved now... People will get an opportunity for the first time that in all government professional colleges one can carry on the studies in his mother tongue," he said.
Union Ministers Kapil Sibal and Subodh Kant Sahay met Baba Ramdev on Friday but failed to arrive at a solution as the yoga guru appeared before his followers at Ramlila ground and announced: "The hunger strike will begin and continue till our demands are met."
"Bharat Mata ki jai [Hail the motherland]" he hollered and his followers echoed.
Some media reports said the Prime Minister is approaching the President of India on the crisis.
Ramdev said the "satyagraha" will continue because it is important to save the country from corruption. He said there would be no revolt against any political party but a peaceful movement and hunger strike will continue.
He also warned the government not to try to suppress the movement which he promised will be peaceful.
The yoga guru wants Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government take concrete steps towards repatriating illicit funds of the Indian rich, estimated by him to be around Rs 400 lakh crore, stashed away in offshore banks to avoid taxes.
For the last three days, the government scrambled to win over Ramdev, clearly apprehensive of having a second anti-graft mass protest in two months take shots at its already battered public approval, as it held frantic negotiations with the Baba and his associates.
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