ZIONIST BRAHAMINICAL HEGEMONY and LPG Mafia Stand United to Support Baba Ramdev`s JIHAD for MANUSMRITI Rule!Me and Sabita were away in Gangtok last week and we returned HOME only last Night. We were Delinked from Information all these days! But we we
ZIONIST BRAHAMINICAL HEGEMONY and LPG Mafia Stand United to Support Baba Ramdev`s JIHAD for MANUSMRITI Rule!Me and Sabita were away in Gangtok last week and we returned HOME only last Night. We were Delinked from Information all these days! But we were quite Aware of Baba Ramdev DRAMA.Recently, Baba Ramdev continued SWABHIMAN Yatra Canvassing for SPRITUAL Rule in India. Neither Baba Ramdev Nor ANNA Hazaare and the CIVIL Society ever did oppose ECONOMIC Reforms and LPG Mafia Rule. They have NOTHING against FREE MARKET of Corporate Imperialism where from Infinite CORRUPTION is generated! They may not UTTER a single word against Corporate Lobbying and rather they support the Killing of Constitution, Democratic Institutions and Democracy itself. They had been ACTIVE to Manipulate Mandate in last elections to see UPA and its Partners ROMP Home thanks to mobilisation of Hindutva Forces in support of ECONOMIC ETHNIC Cleansing and EXCLUSION! In Gangtok, I discussed Baba Ramdev Phenomenon with Mulnivas Bamcef National President WAMAN Meshram. I had been discussing the issue with friends countrywide as the BABA with his Greedy Political Ambition has been PROJECTED nd Super Hyped by Media and Ruling Class to Hijack Mass Movement against Economic Reforms. UPA also played a trick to fix got up game in between Anna Hazaare and Baba Ramdev so that the ANESTHESIA necessary to PUSH for Economic Reforms may be MAXIMUM Effective!
Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time - SIX HUNDRED FIFTY One
ZIONIST BRAHAMINICAL HEGEMONY and LPG Mafia Stand United to Support Baba Ramdev`s JIHAD for MANUSMRITI Rule!
Me and Sabita were away in Gangtok last week and we returned HOME only last Night. We were Delinked from Information all these days! But we were quite Aware of Baba Ramdev DRAMA.
Recntly, he continued SWBHIMAN Yatra Canvassing for SPRITUAL Rule in India. Which is NOTHING But MANUSMRITI RULE. Baba Ramdev, an OBC by Caste plays Post Modern PUSHYA MITRA SUNG!
Neither Baba Ramdev Nor ANNA Hazaare and the CIVIL Society ever did oppose ECONOMIC Reforms and LPG Mafia Rule.
They have NOTHING against FREE MARKET of Corporate Imperialism where from Infinite CORRUPTION is generated!
They may not utter a single word against Corporate Lobbying and rather they support the Killing of Constitution, Democratic Institutions and Democracy itslef.
They had been ACTIVE to Manipulate Mandate in last elections to see UPA and its Partners ROMP Home thanks to mobilisation of Hindutva Forces in supprt of ECONOMIC ETHNIC Cleansing and EXCLUSION!
In Gangtok, I discussed Baba Ramdev Phenomenon with Mulnivas Bamcef National President WAMAN Meshram.
I had been discussing the issue with friends countrywide as the BABA with his Greedy Political Ambition has been PROJECTED and Super Hyped by Media and Ruling Market Dominating Class to Hijack Mass Movement against Economic Reforms.
UPA also played a trick to fix got up game in between Anna Hazaare and Baba Ramdev so that the ANESTHESIA necessary to PUSH for Economic Reforms may be MAXIMUM Effective!
: Breaking his silence on the police action at Ramdev's protest congregation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said it was "unfortunate" but unavoidable even as the political battle on the issue heated up with the BJP knocking at the President's door demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss black money.
In his first comments on the issue, the Prime Minister Singh, who has been accused of mishandling the situation, said, "It is unfortunate that operation had to be conducted but quite honestly, there was no alternative."
He asserted that his government was concerned and serious about fighting corruption but maintained that there was "no magic wand" when his comments were sought by reporters on the much-criticised midnight police action to disrupt Ramdev's anti-corruption protest at Ramlila Maidan.
There was no let up in the war of words with the Congress making it clear that it will deal sternly with forces of communalism and anarchy.
Stepping up its offensive againt the UPA government, a delegation of BJP-led NDA met President Pratibha Patil to demand convening of a special session of Parliament to discuss the issue of black money and police action against Ramdev and his supporters. The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the government on eviction of Baba Ramdev from the Ramlila ground. Taking suomoto cognizance of Baba's eviction by the government the apex court gave the government two-week notice to respond.
An advocate on Sunday approached the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the government to issue a white paper on the entire episode leading to the eviction of yoga guru Ramdev and the alleged barbaric police action early today against his followers at the Ramlila Grounds.
The petition filed by Ajay Agarwal said in the white paper the government should explain the entire sequence of events, details of negotiations and the so-called deal between the government and Ramdev.
The petition, moved before Additional Registrar Vinod Kumar who is the vacation officer, sought a direction to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Intelligence Bureau and Delhi Police to produce the entire records leading to the action.
The advocate has sought the production of these records with in 24 hours.
The additional registrar asked Agarwal to mention the petition tomorrow before a vacation bench comprising justices B S Chauhan and Swantanter Kumar at 10:30 am for hearing.
The petition has also sought direction to the government to restrain its ministers -- Kapil Sibal , Subodh Kant Sahay and Pawan Kumar Bansal -- from making any statement, justifying the midnight swoop which is leading to provocation among the public.
In the petition, Agarwal has named Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Sibal, Bansal, Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, Home Secretary G K Pillai, IB Chief Nehchal Sandhu and Delhi Police Commissioner B K Gupta as respondents.
In the petition, the advocate has alleged that the forceful eviction of Ramdev and the use of force against his followers was against the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 14,19 and 21 of the Constitution.
KANPUR: The lathicharge on Baba Ramdev and his followers on Saturday night at Ram Leela ground in Delhi is being condemned. Members of various social ...
"Baba Ramdev" redirects here. For other uses, see Baba Ramdev.... As a part of campaign, Baba Ramdev has been organising yoga camps across India to create ...
The Divya Yog Mandir (Trust) & Patanjali Yogpeeth (Trust) holds Yoga Science camps under the guidance of Swami Ramdevji Maharaj. Over 30 million people have ...
6 Jun 2011 ... Acharya Balkrishna has been missing since June 4, the day the govt made public the deal with the Ramdev camp on calling off the strike by... timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Baba-Ramdevs-right.../8745825.cms
5 Jun 2011 ... With talks breaking down, police swooped down on Baba Ramdev a little past midnight and detained him after firing tear gas shells and ... in.news.yahoo.com/baba-ramdev-flown-to-haridwar--live-updates.html - Cached
Baba Ramdev Ayurvedic medicines for all Ailment. Buy Herbal and Natural Products and get free shipping worldwide for now. www.babaramdevmedicines.com/ - United States - Cached - Similar
5 Jun 2011 ... In a press conference on 6th June Baba Ramdev made allegations on the government and the Delhi Police charging them for a conspiracy to kill ... www.bharat-swabhiman.com/ - Cached - Similar
6 Jun 2011 ... It was not that long back that Baba Ramdev, a Yadav from Haryana, was just a superior yoga instructor with a mass following, a people's Sri ... www.thehindu.com › News › National
5 Jun 2011 ...Baba Ramdev resumed his satyagraha against corruption and black money on June 6 at Haridwar. indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/baba-ramdev-to-resume.../140503.html
6 Jun 2011 ... Ha Haa.......goodone! but, Ramdev Baba has the strength to teach a lesson or two to Diggy baba(He is now the confirmed political teacher of ... www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?272004 - Cached
Posted on June 6, 2011, 3:12 pm, by admin and received 39 Comments ».
In a press conference on 6th June Baba Ramdev made allegations on the government and the Delhi Police charging them for a conspiracy to kill thousands of people.
1. Cold water canon used on high capacity generators. Could have ignited the entire pandal burning lakhs of people alive. Could have cause electrification of lakhs of people.
2. Teargas bombs thrown in closed pandal(Highly illegal. Its used only in open areas) Could cause deaths of lakhs of people due to suffocation. Could have caused stampede.
3. Pandal ignited 3 times. Done to burn people alive. Could have caused stampede.
It was not that long back that Baba Ramdev, a Yadav from Haryana, was just a superior yoga instructor with a mass following, a people's Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, whose clientele was at the upper end of the social spectrum.
Today, Baba Ramdev heads a yoga and health empire, worth hundreds of crores, with even an island off the coast of Scotland, gifted to him by grateful devotees, to run a yoga ashram and a spa. He swishes around in chartered private planes — and, significantly, has a team of advisers with impressive credentials.
First, there is Acharya Balakrishna, who is credited with marketing his yogic skills and creating an empire — government sources allege that the Acharya is the proud possessor of three passports. Then there is the Lok Ayukta of Punjab and Haryana, Justice Pritam Pal, who has shared the stage with him and who, along with journalist Devinder Sharma – an anti-GM proponent of organic agriculture -- were with him, when he met the four Cabinet Ministers at the airport earlier this week.
Then there is former Intelligence Bureau chief Ajit Doval and veteran journalist Ved Prakash Vaidik, who has close connections with the RSS family. Then there is S Gurumurthy, a chartered accountant by training and RSS person by ideology, who was once a close aide of the newspaper magnate, the late Ramnath Goenka. And the "remote control" is with K.Govindacharya, who in the late 1980s and early 1990s was a key BJP functionary and senior ideologue of the party, and played a critical behind the scenes role in the formation of the V.P. Singh government in 1989. Of late, he has been in close touch with his old mentor, L.K. Advani, and it is Mr. Govindacharya's Bharat Swabhiman Trust along with the RSS that has played a major role in mobilising people for his camp.
A day after the forcible shutting of the protest by Ramdev by Delhi police in Ramlila Maidan , the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance asking the Government to explain the circumstances which compelled to take "brutal" action at the Ramlila Maidan.
In Haridwar, Ramdev resumed his fast vowing to continue his 'satyagraha' till the Government accepts his demands on curbing corruption and black money.
Facing the heat, Congress asserted in Delhi that it will deal firmly with communal forces and others wanting to destabilise the government.
Mincing no words, party spokesperson Janardhan Dwidedi accused the BJP of trying to foment trouble to return to power at the Centre.
He also lashed out at the BJP for comparing Ramdev with Mahatma Gandhi and Vivekananda.
High drama was witnessed at the press briefing when a man posing as a journalist tried to attack Dwidedi with a shoe. Sunil Kumar, who was sacked as a teacher of a coaching institute in Rajasthan, was immediately taken into custody.
Taking on Ramdev, Dwidedi said a man who claims to be saint tried to escape in a woman's dress. "Satyagrahis don't run away wearing woman's clothes. They fight," he said.
Ramdev had nearly given the police a slip after jumping from a three-metre high podium. He had melted into the crowd of supporters and changed into a salwar-kameez, acting like an injured woman, before he was spotted.
A delegation of NDA leaders led by BJP Parliamentary Party Chairman L K Advani met the President and handed over a memorandum demanding immediate convening of a special session of Parliament and passage of a resolution declaring the ill-gotten money stashed away abroad as national asset.
The memorandum said in the special session, the opposition wants to "compel" the government to explain its "brutal action against peaceful protesters and apologise for this attack on civil liberties and democratic rights".
The President gave them a patient hearing and assured the delegation that the memorandum will be examined and sent to the government for appropriate action.
BJP, whose top leaders are holding a satyagraha at Rajghat here to protest the crackdown on Ramdev and his supporters, accused the government of "shielding and protecting" the corrupt.
From calling him "distrustful" to an "attention seeker", and his fast against corruption a "sham", voices against yoga guru Baba Ramdev in the virtual world outnumbered those in his support, reflecting in many ways the view of the younger generation of him.
Twenty five-year-old Vivek Malik, an aware Netizen, wrote on Facebook: "Baba has not got his due share in the prevailing loot, that's why he's making this hue and cry. It is all a sham."
Sushant Jha, taking on politicians, said: "Before criticizing Baba, (Congress general secretary) Digvijay Singh must disclose the assets of his brothers and relatives. Politics is not the prerogative of lawyers, professors or former kings."
Then there was Shailey Hingorani, who said she was severely disappointed by Novak Djokovi's performance at the French Open and was looking at Baba Ramdev to provide the "weekend's entertainment"!
Then there were those who believed that Gandhian leader Anna Hazare is the true face of anti-corruption movement, and not Baba Ramdev.
The status message of Aparajita Krishna on Facebook read: "Sorry, but i m deeply distrustful of Baba Ramdev, Shri Shri, Anna Hazare type of all power, no responsibility kind of interventionist religion-politics. why can't the innocent masses throw out the government in corruption and vote a better alternative? why should your mandate be also hijacked by these 'baba logs'?"
Then there was Gaytri Madhura, calling Ramdev "just a attention seeker".
However, there were some like Manish Birla, seeking Ramdev's suggestion in tackling corruption.
"Need suggestion.. passport police verification whole world know we need to pay bribe to get the passport.. no body is doing any thing.. Babaji how can you help me in this. i'm trying not to pay bribe but without that i don't know how to get passport also... please suggest how should i proceed.. should i pay bribe and close the chapter or i can get some help," he wrote.
Congratulating Ramdev on his crusade against corruption, Kishor Bhutani wrote: "Congratulations and thank you Baba ji and Anna ji to come together. Thank you for thinking so much about my India. This is the great beginning towards bright future of India."
Harsh Choudhary wrote: "I am wid u Baba, will do any thing you want to do and will fight for our country. Vande Matram..."
6 JUN, 2011, 10.09AM IST, HIMANSHI DHAWAN,TNN
Police action salvaged Baba Ramdev's credibility
NEW DELHI: The Hazare team came out in open support for Baba Ramdev on Sunday, putting their differences aside.
Speaking in Delhi, Hazare accused the government of throttling democracy, and said civil society would launch protests throughout the country to "teach government a lesson" .
"There might have been some faults with Baba Ramdev's agitation but at midnight , beating up people - women, children and elderly - is a blot on democracy,'' Hazare said. He announced that he would sit on a day-long fast at Jantar Mantar on June 8.
Earlier, the Hazare and Ramdev camps appeared to have drifted away for a number of reasons stretching from genuine differences of opinion on issues to the presence of RSS-leaning figures in the Ramdev camp to the desire to take control of the antigraft campaign.
In fact, government's moves to indulge Ramdev capped by the red carpet rolled out for him on Thursday when four Cabinet ministers turned up at the airport to receive him had led to apprehension that the yoga guru was being promoted as a counterweight to Hazare campaign.
The newly-forged unity among civil society means that the government will now have to contend with a stronger opposition on its contentious proposal to keep the PM and higher judiciary outside the jurisdiction of the proposed Lokpal bill. There is a possibility that Baba, so far ambivalent on whether PM should be within the purview of Lokpal, may now support the Hazare group. Ironically, the police operation has salvaged Ramdev's credibility which was under scrutiny after government claimed that he had already cut a deal before launching on a fast.
Keeping civil society engaged is helpful for the government to argue that it has been sensitive to the anti-corruption sentiments.
Its hopes of roping in other components of the political class to form a bloc against civil society are also unlikely to materialize with major political parties - BJP , Left, Samajwadi Party, BSP and JD(U) - all condemning the police action as reminiscent of repression during the Emergency of 1975. The sole exception was Lalu Prasad: hardly the poster boy for integrity in public life.
The police operation was cleared by government leaders at5 pm on Saturday following the recognition that Baba was not going to call off his protest soon. It was executed efficiently, with Delhi Police managing to clear the camp site of protesters with maximum restraint. There was no lathi charge, while a few protesters suffered serious injuries and had to be taken to hospital.
Ramdev was flown to Dehradun in a BSF plane which had been kept on standby.
But the footage of firing of teargas shells and panicstricken women and elderly running for cover relentlessly playing out on TV screens pointed to the risk of government having to pay a political cost. Being the incumbent and handicapped by scams on its watch, it was already the principal target of the antigraft campaign. Any resentment over the midnight raid on Baba's camp will add to the disadvantage. The risk is real considering that details of the 2G and CWG scam are still pouring out. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/police-action-salvaged-baba-ramdevs-credibility/articleshow/8743739.cms
06/06/2011
Ramdev crackdown: Digvijay's house attacked, charged with sedition
Bhopal: Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh's residence was pelted with stones by some unidentified people who also shouted slogans in favour of yoga guru Baba Ramdev, police said Monday.
Digvijay Singh, who has twice been Madhya Pradesh chief minister, owns a bungalow here in Shyamla Hills, but when the incident took place late Sunday, no one from his family was present except a few guards.
"Some people pelted stones and shouted slogans at Digvijay Singh's residence in Shyamla Hills. But it happened for a few minutes and the group left the place," Bhopal Superintendent of Police (SP) Yogesh Choudhary told IANS.
"After the incident, we have told the patrolling party to keep a watch on the house," he said.
The incident is being seen as the outcome of Digvijay Singh's remarks against Ramdev whom he had termed a "thug" Sunday morning after Delhi police's crackdown on the yoga guru's fast unto death at Ramlila ground in New Delhi.
Madhya Pradesh Congress leader J.P. Dhanopia claimed the people who pelted stones were affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and allied groups.
"The incident took place in the presence of police and we strongly condemn it. The incident also proved that Baba Ramdev is an agent of the saffron parivar," Dhanopia alleged.
Sedition charge against Digvijay Singh
Muzaffarpur (Bihar): A local court today accepted a complaint seeking to register a case of sedition against Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh for allegedly describing Yoga guru Ramdev as a 'fraud'.
Chief Judicial Magistrate R C Malviya accepted the complaint filed by advocate Sudhir Ojha who sought to book Singh under section 154(A) (sedition), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the IPC.
Malviya recorded the statement of a witness of the case Aditya Kumar and fixed June 16 as next date of hearing.
Source: IANS, PTI
06/06/2011
Hazare's team raising extraneous issues: Sibal
Trouble in the Lokpal Bill drafting committee escalated on Monday with civil society members boycotting its meeting citing "suspicious intent" of the government which hit back, saying the Anna Hazare's team was raising "extraneous" issues.
A tough-talking government asserted that the committee would continue its work to draft a strong Lokpal Bill and finish it by June 30 for introduction in the Monsoon Session of Parliament "whether or not someone" comes for the meetings.
The two sides were engaged in war of words as a result of which five civil society members in the committee boycotted the meeting which was attended only by the five ministers representing the government, raising questions over the joint panel.
The trigger to the latest trouble was the police action to disrupt Baba Ramdev's protest at Ramlila Maidan with Mr. Hazare, saying it reflected government's "suspicious intent" and "fraud" with regard to fighting corruption.
Hours before the meeting, joint committee co-chairman Shanti Bhushan also alleged that the government practically wants to leave everyone out of Lokpal's ambit -- Prime Minister, horse trading of MPs, middle and lower bureaucracy judiciary.
Hitting back, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, who is also a member of the committee, said, "many issues they raise are very extraneous and have nothing to do with the proceedings of the committee."
He particularly referred to Mr. Hazare raising the issue of Ramlila Maidan incident and questioned how it was linked with drafting of the bill.
Source: PTI
By Bhupesh Bhandari, Business Standard, 04/06/2011
Meet Baba Ramdev, the swami who owns a Scottish Island
Baba Ramdev runs a multi-crore empire, owns a Scottish island and is now on a fast to fight corruption. Here is a recall of a piece that was published earlier on MSN -- of Baba who owns an island in Scotland.
File photo of Indian yoga guru Swami Ramdev gestures as he teaches breathing exercises during a open air yoga camp in Kolkata. Ramdev, a bare-chested guru who wears a saffron wraparound and shawl, is the rage in many parts of India and claims to cure illnesses through breathing exercises and traditional medicines. Photo Courtesy: Reuters
Three Delhi Police constables are on duty outside the house, sprawled on plastic chairs. They don't frisk you; before you can ask, they tell you how to find the person they are here to guard. The staircase is decorated with marigold. The devout have left their shoes, slippers, sandals and even ankle-length boots outside the door. A bevy of people -- young and old, rich and poor, men and women -- are here to see Swami Ramdev. It is the house of a follower. Ramdev is here on his way from Sikkim to his ashram in Hardwar. In a few days, he is off to Nepal, where the president, as well as the prime minister, is his disciple.
India's well-known ascetic is seated on a sofa with his legs folded under him. He is draped in saffron, and his high-heel wooden sandals are under the chair. His torso looks supple. Ramdev, of course, is Indian rubber. His lunch has been served -- cut mango, chikoos, grapes and watermelon. "I haven't eaten any grain or cereal for 13 years now," I am told. New-age yoga guru, PT instructor to the masses, healer to the rich and mighty, enemy of multinationals, television star, homophobe and now an aspiring leader -- it's certainly not easy being Ramdev.
Educated Indians have always been sceptical of godmen. Their sex, land and financial scandals -- mostly sex -- get exposed with unfailing regularity. What has worked for Ramdev is that he has put physical fitness first, and has taken religion out of Yoga. He has had his share of controversies, though. Communist leader Brinda Karat alleged that his medicine had bone powder. Tests carried out in laboratories found the claim unfounded. The sale of Ramdev's medicine went up manifold. Neo-liberals have found his opposition to homosexuality primitive and galling. Undeterred, Ramdev says he wants to change the country for good. Next elections, his people will contest every seat of Lok Sabha.
File photo of Baba Ramdev (R) at The India Today Conclave 2010 in New Delhi. Ramdev, a vocal critic of pre-marital sex, also attacked homosexuality although India last year decriminalised same-gender sex. Ramdev says he wants to change the country for good. Photo Courtesy: AFP
On his agenda are removal of corruption, large public works for development and making systemic changes in accordance with traditional Indian wisdom. Food for me has also arrived: Preparations of gourd, potatoes and cottage cheese, puris of buckwheat, raita and kheer. The crockery is brand new, the stickers haven't been removed. A spread for Ramdev has also been brought; he agrees to have a morsel or two. Ramdev is willing to debate each of the three agendas.
A strong role for the government is an open invitation to corruption, I argue. "What is lacking is the will power to end corruption," says he. The extent of black money in the country, Ramdev says, is Rs 30,000,000 crore. The government should recall all currency in circulation and issue a new one -- all unaccounted money will fall into its hands. That money can be used for power, irrigation, waste treatment etc. Seventy per cent of the country is below the poverty line, 400 million people in villages are landless and another 400 million are without jobs. Ramdev's solution is to give up to one acre to all the rural landless and raise minimum wages to Rs 10,000 a month. "And punish the corrupt with death," says the ascetic with that trademark twinkle in his eyes.
The legal and educational systems, he thunders, were imposed on us by the British to serve their own needs; there is no reason why we shouldn't have our own systems. "What freedom is this," he asks. "Our law says that not one innocent should be punished, even if a hundred guilty go free. We should see to it that all guilty get punished; if that includes one or two innocent, so be it." The buckwheat puris are delicious and melt in the mouth. More are on offer, but Ramdev asks the host not to force me. Rasgullas are brought for us, purchased obviously at the market. The host insists these are home-made. Ramdev knows better but still digs into the grandfather of all desserts.
File photo of BJP leader LK Advani (C), spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (R) and Indian yoga guru Swami Ramdev attending a function. Ramdev has already announced a political party and next elections, his people are to contest every seat of Lok Sabha. Photo Courtesy: Reuters
However radical his thoughts may sound, I realise that Ramdev oozes confidence. This is because he thinks he has the numbers all worked out. About 30 million, says he, have attended his Yoga camps. Each of them goes back to a family of five to seven. So, that's at least 150 million votes. He is also on television round the clock. That, claims Ramdev, gives him viewership of 1 billion! Then there are the latent supporters, says he. "Even evil idolises truth. Ravan's brothers wanted Ram to win. A philanderer doesn't want his kids to follow his footsteps."
He also has a huge fan-following amongst Muslims. "I am the only saffron-clad accepted by the Muslims," says he. Muslims, Ramdev has said, can recite verses from the Koran while doing Yoga. Ramdev says he has thought of a name for his party but will not disclose it to me. He will not contest elections. He wants to have an organisation of up to a million people in each district, and aspires for power at the Centre and not at the states because that's where real power lies.
Is there a role for private enterprise in Ramdev's world view? Definitely, says he, but the government needs to fix prices of all goods and services and, thereby, control profits! He says he knows most large businessmen and what kind of obscene money companies make.
An woman practices breathing exercises with hundreds of others during an open air yoga camp of Baba Ramdev in Kolkata. About 30 million, says Ramdev, have attended his Yoga camps. Each of them goes back to a family of five to seven. So, that's at least 150 million votes. Photo Courtesy: Reuters
Ramdev himself runs a business of no small proportions. This includes hospitals, the media and herbal products. He sells medicine worth Rs 25 crore every month; sale of his books and CDs fetch Rs 2 to 3 crore. He has set up a food park near Hardwar with an investment of Rs 500 crore. All told, Ramdev provides employment to 13,000 people. "What are your profit margins," I ask. Sixteen per cent, says Ramdev, but quickly adds that his operating costs and retail margins are way below others and that's why his products are priced on an average 50 per cent below rivals.
"But you must be a rich man," I tell Ramdev, "Haven't you bought an island off the Scottish coast." The island of 700 acres, Ramdev counters, was a gift from the Poddars of Glasgow (Mr Poddar is from Bihar, Mrs Poddar from Nepal). Somebody has even gifted him 95 acres near Houston. Then there's something similar in Canada. Individuals have also contributed towards the Rs 500-crore food park.
"But why do you hate multinationals? Even several Indians like the Tata group have now become multinational corporations," I ask Ramdev. They take out a lot more money than they bring in, he answers, and take away more jobs from traditional craftsmen and local businessmen than they bring. Fuzzy logic indeed, but Ramdev speaks with conviction. Multinational corporations are not required. The Rs 300,000,000 crore of black money is more than enough to take care of all Indians. This is more economics than I can digest in a day. Ramdev's aide whispers in my ear that my time is up.
File photo of Swami Ramdev gesturing as he teaches breathing exercises during a open air yoga camp in Kolkata. Ramdev sells medicine worth Rs 25 crore every month; sale of his books and CDs fetch Rs 2 to 3 crore.Photo Courtesy: Reuters
I get up, but want to know about Ramdev's healing powers. (He has been censured for claiming to cure AIDS; Ramdev, in turn, claimed he was misquoted.) How has George Fernandes benefited from his cure? "When he came to me, he couldn't take a step; he now walks half a mile," says he. "Weren't you called to cure Atal Bihari Vajpayee's bad knee? He had to go for surgery finally," I counter. "He did not follow my prescriptions," Ramdev answers. I take my leave.
There's a camera crew and a foreign correspondent waiting for Ramdev in another room. A family of six well-proportioned Sikhs has come for the Swami's darshan .The constables ignore us on the way out.
New Delhi: Taking suo motu cognisance of forceful eviction of yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his followers from the Ramlila grounds here, the Supreme Court today sought the Centre's response on the incident.
A vacation bench of justices B S Chauhan and Swatenter Kumar issued notices to the Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretary of Delhi, Delhi administration, andDelhi Police Commissioner asking them to respond within two weeks.
The court asked them to reply as to what were the circumstances under which the people had to be dispersed in the midnight by the use of force.
The court posted the matter for hearing in the second week of July.
However, the court declined to entertain a petition filed by advocate Ajay Aggarwal on the issue.
The bench expressed its displeasure that before the matter came up for hearing before it, the entire contents of the petition were leaked to the media.
Police had cracked down on Baba Ramdev and thousands of his supporters at Ramlila Maidan on Saturday night, forcibly ending their hunger strike on corruption and black money issues.
Source: PTI
06/06/2011
Crackdown unfortunate, but no alternative: PM on Ramdev
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday defended the police crackdown on yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his supporters, saying it was "unfortunate" but the authorities had "no alternative".
The prime minister also told reporters on the sidelines of an event here that his government was "serious and concerned about corruption and black money".
This was Manmohan Singh's first public reaction since the Saturday midnight police action on Ramdev and his supporters at the Ramlila Ground here forced the yoga guru to quit Delhi and left many people injured.
In response to another question, the prime minister said there was no magic wand to end corruption.
"We are very serious about fighting corruption but there is no magic wand," he said.
The crackdown on the yoga guru and his supporters, many of whom were sleeping, has attracted widespread crotocism across the political spectrum. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) equated the police to the Jallianwala Bagh attack during British rule.
Ramdev, who was fasting for tough laws against corruption and black money, had to flee New Delhi in the garb of a woman. He reached his ashram in Hardwar Sunday where he has continued his hunger strike.
The Congress has slammed Ramdev, calling him a "thug" and the mask of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Source: IANS
By R Shankar, 06/06/2011
June – month of political blunders for Cong
The UPA govt committed 5 blunders in dealing with Baba Ramdev. But in June, the Cong is known for committing blunders
When the police (read UPA government) gate-crashed into the yoga camp at dead of night on Sunday and sent Baba Ramdev's followers into knotty yogic posture by swinging batons, lobbing teargas shells and using violent methods to filing hapless men and women out into the streets, it was the UPA governmentthat put democracy on a Shirshasana - on its head.
Call it political blunder or a naive move, the UPA government committed five major blunders. But in June, the Congress has had a history of committing blunders or political hara-kiri. It was in a midnight madness in June that Indira Gandhi declared the infamous Emergency (June 25, 1975); it was on June 3, 1984 that Indira Gandhi initiated Operation Blue Star; it was on June 5 that a crackdown was ordered on Ramlila protestors.
Well, does the Congress have a problem with June? Call it coincidence or an irony on the June issue, but here are the five blunders committed in the Ramdev episode:
Blunder Number 1: Why was permission given to Baba Ramdev to hold a political protest?
According to Delhi's laws, Ramlila ground cannot be used for political get-togethers. Ramdev had clearly indicated that he would go on fast against corruption - something that had political overtones. The Delhi unit of the Bharat Swabhiman Manch and the Patanjali Yoga Samiti had sought and obtained permission for a Yoga Shivir and dharna. The dharna part was enough for cancelling the permission. The two organisations later distributed leaflets calling for an indefinite "Bhrashtachar Mitao Satyagraha" at the Ramlila ground.
But the government did not act. Why? Because they wanted to use Ramdev to spike Anna Hazare. That is another blunder and I shall come to that later.
According to the letter given by the Bharat Swabhiman Manch and the Patanjali Yoga Samiti, the yoga camp was not for more than 3000 people. But intelligence reports indicated that more than 30,000 people were expected to attend Baba Ramdev's satyagraha against corruption. Media reports indicated that letters were written by Home Secretary G K Pillai and B S Brar, Delhi's Special Commissioner (intelligence) to the Cabinet Secretary that clearly indicated that 30,000 people were expected to attend the Baba's fast. Hence, the government was aware of the fact that Baba Ramdev was going to flout the rules on two counts.
Again no action. Why? Baba Ramdev was a UPA creation to fight Anna Hazare.
Blunder number 2: The airport drama
It foxed, amazed and annoyed many when four senior ministers headed by Finance Minsiter Pranab Mukherjee, the number 2 in the Cabinet, went to receive Baba Ramdev at the New Delhi airport when he arrived by a private plane from Ujjain. It looked as if Ramdev was an important foreign dignitary. Well, there was a purpose behind the airport drama.
According to sources, the four wise men - Pranab Mukherjee and Kapil Sibal - the primary interlocutors who presented a plan of action to the Baba to get black money from abroad - and Pawan Kumar Bansal and Subodh Kant Sahay who doubled up as translators - were to persuade Ramdev to see sense. If not, the Baba was to be told that he cannot enter Delhi and the plan was to bundle him back to Hardwar citing a plethora of rules. A BSF plane was reportedly kept ready for taking Baba from the hot political environs of Delhi to his cool ashram in Hardwar.
The Delhi police and intelligence, waiting outside the airport, were sure that they would not see the Baba step into Delhi. But when he emerged, their jaws dropped.
Here there are two versions: One that Baba agreed to the steps taken by the government and agreed to undertake a token fast (again why? And with 30,000 people?) and secondly, that the talks broke down and the ministers were left fuming and clueless. Sources also said that Pranab Mukherjee was very upset for having been deputed to do a job he did not like or approve and to add insult to injury, the PMO distanced itself from the airport drama.
Blunder number 3: The midnight crackdown
Even the biggest loyalists of the UPA government would, for once, agree with the critics of the Manmohan Singh government on the issue of the midnight crackdown on the supporters of Baba Ramdev. Why did the police and the Rapid Action Force go at midnight and use force to disperse the followers of the Baba who were asleep. Could they have not waited for daybreak? What was the big hurry? Either the government must have been very nervous or would have taken a conscious decision to break the fast and give prospective agitators like Anna Hazare a lesson.
Mark Kapil Sibal's statement: "This (the midnight crackdown) should be a lesson for everyone." This is what he told presspersons on Sunday.
Blunder number 4: Letting loose cannons fire
Senior Congress leader and the party's loose cannon Digvijay Singh, as usual, fired in the Congress party's foot by calling Baba Ramdev a thug and a cheat. That touched a raw nerve in many. And the BJP was quick to remind supporters and viewers on TV that Digvijay Singh refers to Osama bin Laden as 'Osamaji' and pays frequent visits to hotbeds of terror outfits but calls Baba a thug, a cheat and a fraud.
To make matters worse, Singh also hurled a lot of muck on the Baba on financial irregularities, hoping that some would stick. He claimed he had documents to prove that the Baba indulged in financial frauds, but refused to part with the proof he had in his hands.
Digvijay's statements did two things: they consolidated the sympathy for the Baba and left the UPA red-faced.
Blunder number 5: Using Baba Ramdev to spike Anna Hazare
The Congress, which had once created and cultivated a man called Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale in Punjab, used a refined tactic to create and cultivate Baba Ramdev in order to spike Anna Hazare and the Civil Society. The Congress and the UPA government gave undue importance to Baba Ramdev hoping to strike a deal with him and thus crack up a growing urban phenomenon called Civil Society. But the Baba proved to be a different cookie.
And like the Blue Star operation ordered by Indira Gandhi on the Golden Temple, a vicious midnight drama was ordered by the UPA government. Did Indira Gandhi's daughter-in-law know of this? Well, there are two versions - that she and the PM were briefed and secondly, they did not know anything.
It is difficult to believe the second version. Such a huge midnight operation right under their nose and they knew nothing? And one more thing: there is a man `missing' in the Ramlila operation - Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram. Did he not order the crackdown? So, why is he not standing up.
Well, the Congress has itself to blame; or it can blame the days in June.
Source: India Syndicate
By E Jayakrishnan, India Syndicate, 02/06/2011
Comment: "Not scared of Ramdev", says Digvijay. Really?
With the mother of all fasts looming, UPA tries to put up a brave face but the panic is there for all to see
"We are not scared of Baba Ramdev", thunders Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh. He also added in equal measure, "If the Congress was afraid of Ramdev, the party would have put him behind bars. Baba Ramdev is more of a businessman now. He charges Rs. 50,000 for teaching yoga.
Really, then why did four senior members of the Union Cabinet plus the Cabinet Secretary hot foot it to the Delhi airport to 'parley in equal terms' for over two hours with the King of Yoga?
There are two primary reasons that animated the government's unprecedented feting of Ramdev.
One, make no bones about it, is fear. Fear not only that a fast by the Baba will stoke and log into the strong anti-corruption emotions in the country, lying dormant since the Anna Hazare fast on the Lok Pal bill ended a few months back.
Moreover, Baba Ramdev has immense organisational acumen and strength through his entrenched organisations - like the Patanjali Yogpeeth - with tentacles across the country. This has the potential to make the Anna Hazare-led agitation a few months back, look like a walk in the park.
Plus, Ramdev has, if need be, a force-multiplier in the form of his closeness to the RSS; whose organising prowess is legendary. "In this fight against corruption, all the RSS workers will join the initiative by Ramdev baba," said Ram Madhav, the RSS spokesperson. Ominous signs for the government.
The government's fear also is that while Ramdev's demands on abolishing the black economy and uprooting corruption will find resonance and support across the country his specific demands are not easy to meet.
For instance, his demand for the death penalty for corrupt officials, a ban on high denomination notes - abolishing all notes above Rs 50, declaring all illegal money stashed abroad as 'national property'.
While prima facie all these looking extremely doable and welcome; in reality, for varied reasons, they are not so easy to give in to. Already the abolishing of the higher denomination notes has been rubbished as "impractical".
Therefore, a prolonged agitation by the yoga guru, joined in by the civil society, with neither side willing to budge, would erode the government's credibility and control, given that it is already buffeted by the unearthing of scam after scam during its tenure.
The second reason for the government's effort to play softball with Baba Ramdev is the perception that Ramdev was more amenable to reason (read more pliable) and therefore can be used to split the anti-corruption movement, launched by the civil society, down the middle.
The government clearly saw fissures in the movement, when Ramdev seemingly went against the civil society leaders' demand that the prime minister and the higher judiciary should be brought under the purview of the propose Lok Pal bill (A statement which Ramdev has retracted since).
The round table with the Baba at the airport was the government's attempt to persuade him to call off his "fast unto death" and dilute the Lok Pal movement by issuing him a promissory note on what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has termed "practical and pragmatic steps" to tackle corruption in the future.
The government will keep trying, with the cabinet ministers scheduled to meet him again; before he begins his fast on June 4 at the Ramlila grounds in Delhi.
It is highly unlikely that Ramdev will budge, given that he has gone far down the road and the stakes have become high - backtracking without anything concrete in hand will be perceived by the citizens as a big letdown.
This leaves the UPA-government with a red-hot potato in its hands.
It is also likely that an increasingly frustrated government, and the Congress party, will go into spin-control mode not only questioning Baba Ramdev's credentials but also the wisdom of employing fasts as a means of fighting corruption.
Once again, it is Digvijay Singh who has already fired the first salvo. "The government has asked Baba Ramdev to call off his fast because hunger strikes don't end corruption, laws do," he is reported to have said.
Problem is, Mr Singh, only fasts and agitations seem to coerce the government into bringing effective laws in place. Did anybody even know a thing called the Lok Pal bill before civil society's agitation started?
Plus, Mr Singh, fasts by a certain Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi brought about the end of the British empire. So, it can't be all that bad. Can it!
Source: India Syndicate
By Dipankar Paul, India Syndicate, 05/06/2011
The Death of a Democracy, by UPA2
June 5, 2011, 1.10 am: The official time of death of the great Indian democracy
Baba Ramdev with his supporters after a clash broke out between police and his supporters during the first day of his satyagrah at Ramlila Grounds in New Delhi on Saturday night.
Why am I being arrested without any information, at night? Baba Ramdev asked before being whisked away from Ramlila Maidan under orders from the UPA leadership. It was, as it turns out, a rhetorical question.
Ramdev was being arrested without any information because this government strongly believes it can do anything and get away with it. Indeed, Congress leader Digvijay Singh justified the action, saying it was done in public interest.
This Congress highhandedness is nothing new. Any sort of pressure on the centre seems to be met with dictatorial harshness.
But what the Digvijay Singhs, Sonia Gandhis, Manmohan Singhs of the Congress do not realise is the fact that the world is now laughing at them. Laughing, and at the same time, lamenting the death of the "People" in the world's largest democracy.
In the decades to come, the Congress will look back on June 5, 2011, as the day it all ended for the grand old party. Just as it will look at June 25, 1975, as the time when the end began.
As soon as reports of the raid against the thousands gathered at Ramlila Maidan were broadcast, comparisons to the Emergency of 1975 were inevitable. Opposition parties referred to it; social media talked about it: The trauma of the Emergency is here again.
After the 1971 general elections, the opposition made allegations that the Congress had resorted to electoral fraud to register a win.
Supporters of yoga guru Baba Ramdev react from tear gas after clashing with police at Ramlila Maidan
It was the summer of discontent
In June 1975, the Allahabad High Court found Indira Gandhi guilty of misuse of government machinery for her election campaign, and declared her election null and void. Indira's Lok Sabha seat was revoked, and she was banned from contesting any election for an additional six years. Protests again Indira, led by J.P. Narayan, Raj Narain and Morarji Desai, flooded the streets of Delhi close to the Parliament building and the Prime Minister's residence, at which time Indira imposed the Emergency.
What is happening in Delhi today today have the same characteristics of the events that followed the Emergency, which was imposed, in a strange coincidence, in the June of 1975.
During the Emergency, the Government used police forces across the country to arrest thousands of protestors and strike leaders. J.P. Narayan, Raj Narain, Morarji Desai, Charan Singh, Jivatram Kripalani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Satyendra Narayan Sinha and other protest leaders were immediately arrested. Organisations such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, along with some opposition political parties were banned. Numerous Communist leaders were arrested along with many others involved with the party.
Indira Gandhi granted herself extraordinary constitutional powers and had launched a massive crackdown on civil liberties and political opposition. The Government cited threats to national security, as a war with Pakistan had recently been concluded.
The same reasons of security and public interest are being floated about, and like 1975, there are no takers.
After Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency, she herself said that she had brought democracy to "a grinding halt". Today, her successors have murdered it.
Police officers remove a protestor from Ramlila Maidan.
While Baba Ramdev isn't the ideal face against corruption, as Anna Hazare is, the 'action' against him and his supporters has perhaps signalled ramifications larger than those in the aftermath of the Emergency for the Grand Old Party of India.
A top Delhi police official said the raid was politically motivated, that pressure from the Centre forced them to carry out the operation at midnight.
Only a month ago, the government was given a taste of an united movement in the form of Anna Hazare, and it is surprising that the powers that be have already forgotten. But the Indian public has made it clear that it does not have that short a memory.
The PM has so far been silent on the entire episode, but the time has come for the Congress to make a stand, for the writing is on the wall: Act on the demands of the Indian people, or be prepared for more such movements.
The discontent is spreading. In 1975, free press was demolished by the Indira administration - only a few publications defied the Centre's orders. Today, however, the advent of social media is only fuelling the public anger against the government.
And no stones are being left unturned to make the government realise that repeating the autocratic decisions of June 1975 in June 2011 will have far greater consequences.
Activist website India Against Corruption has already issued calls for emergency meetings in multiple cities.
The destroyed tents at Ramlila Maidan after police cracked down on Baba Ramdev's fast against black money.
Jan Lokpal Bill advocate Prashant Bhushan wrote on the group's Facebook page: "The government is cornered. I condemn the government action. This is barbaric. I call upon the PM to give an explanation. Every citizen of India has fundamental right to protest against the government. This shows government will crush people who will protest. This shows nervousness of the government. Is this dictatorship?"
Another Facebook user, Amit Mishra, says: "This government is the most corrupt and cruel government in the history of India and they must go!!! There should be people's government in this country... The autocratic rule of Sonia and her puppets is no more acceptable."
Twitter was abuzz, too.
"I may not be a Die Hard fan of #ramdev, But I am a Die Hard Fan of Freedom of India. I have lost Freedom," said a Tweet from Rahul Easwar. Archana13 says: "If the present government has any decency left they should resign taking responsibility for the inhuman action taken against public."
Another post on the India Against Corruption page said: "Brutal police action at Ramlila Maidan, Swami Ramdev's supporters and satyagrahis lathicharged, tear gas shells lobbed, Sec-144 imposed - This is most shocking development, murder of democracy at midnight - We condemn it in strongest way. Brace for a long battle ahead!"
Jawaharlal Nehru had proudly proclaimed on August 15, 1947: "... at the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom."
Now, 64 years later, at yet another midnight, the people have finally awoken, and it is going to be a long battle ahead for the government ahead.
Source: India Syndicate with inputs from agencies
By Dipankar Paul, India Syndicate, 30/05/2011
The Anna conundrum
Once the shining light in India's crusade against the corrupt, is Anna Hazare slowly turning into a political yo-yo?
He came as a breath of fresh air in the dank quagmire of India's politics of corruption; he showed that change, once seemingly impossible, was only limited by resolve.
"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it," said Paulo Coelho in his 'The Alchemist'. Anna Hazare proved it.
The 73-year-old activist's three-day fast took the country by storm, and managed to push an anti-corruption bill of, for, and by the people into the collective consciousness of one billion.
But now, two months after that historic fast-unto-death, holes have appeared in the Anna Hazare phenomenon. Anna called his fast the "second struggle for independence". It is now overshadowed by the great Medussa that is Indian politics.
It began with Narendra Modi. During his fast, Anna Hazare heaped praise on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The work done by Narendra Modi (and Nitish Kumar) should be done by chief ministers of all states, the veteran Gandhian said.
This glowing praise drew sharp criticism from media activists and the Congress alike. Digvijay Singh, the Congress general secretary, said, "There is no forum in Gujarat where people can complain against corruption. There are so many other allegations against Narendra Modi and his government, how can he be termed an honest man?"
45 days later, in the eye of a media storm, Anna backtracked.
In Ahmedabad, on a two-day visit, he said: "I see scams and scams in Mahatma Gandhi's land. I feel ashamed liquor is available here more than milk.
"Corruption is rampant in Gujarat and it hasn't even spared the state of Gandhi. After coming here, I have realised that there are so many corruption cases here. So much corruption in Gandhiji's state."
As with his original statement about Gujarat and Narendra Modi, Anna's volte face has not earned him any plaudits. According to an online poll conducted by MSN -- Was Anna Hazare right in saying Modi's Gujarat is steeped in corruption and soaked in liquor? -- out of 21,628 people who responded, 56 per cent (12,215 readers) said "No. Anna is wrong and has done an opportunistic u-turn. Modi is doing a good job."
39 per cent (8,369 readers) said "Yes. Gujarat's underbelly is not the same as the vibrant state."
But, Anna appears unscathed, firing yet another salvo. Taking credit for the ministers and politicians jailed after corruption charges in 2G and other scams, he said, "I have taken six wickets and there are many more to go".
He even goes on to take a pot shot at the people of India, the masses that stood by him when he went on his fast, the thousands who made sure that the government could not brush aside the Jan Lokpal Bill.
On April 9, the day he broke his fast, Anna said: "We have shown the world in just five days that we are united for the cause of the nation. The youth power in this movement is a sign of hope."
Two months later: "Everybody says Anna tum aage chalo hum tumhare saath hai. When I look back, I find no one," said Anna. "The fight against corruption is not one man's fight and people will have to be ready to sacrifice everything for the cause" and fill the jails.
When he first raised his call to arms -- Jail Bharo -- many shot it down, calling it a movement that would not, could not achieve results akin to the freedom movement. The fact that Anna continues to harp about 'jail bharo' raises questions over how tuned he is to modern society.
One of Anna's significant victories, the one that lends him crusade credibility is his transformation of Maharashtra's Ralegan Siddhi village. One of the first things he tackled was alcoholism in the village. Liquor was banned in the village, and twelve men who were found in a drunken state after warnings were tied to a pole and flogged.
To the criticism over the beatings Anna said, "Doesn't a mother administer bitter medicines to a sick child when she knows that the medicine can cure her child? The child may not like the medicine, but the mother does it only because she cares for the child."
While the success of Anna's programs at Ralegan Siddhi has made the village an example of rural self-sufficiency, this comment is perhaps the embodiment of Anna's black and white world view. Black is bad, punish it, till it becomes white.
The critics and supporters of Anna's anti-corruption movement agree that the Jan Lokpal Bill is just that. The former say the bill is too Draconian, the latter say that is the need of the hour.
When he began his fast, Anna was called the agent of the Opposition. The Congress wasted no time and space in the media to blast the "handiwork of the BJP". When he praised Narendra Modi, the Centre said that there were no doubts over Anna's affiliation. But after his u-turn over Gujarat and Modi, there are now questions over whether Anna has been 'turned' by the government
06/06/2011
High drama at AICC; man tries to hurl shoe at Dwivedi
New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) High drama was witnessed at the AICC headquarters here today when a person posing as a journalist tried to attack party General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi with a shoe, apparently miffed over the treatment meted out to Ramdev.
The person, who was carrying an identification as Sunil Kumar of Nav-Sanchar Patrika from Rajasthan, came close to Dwivedi, removed his shoe and stopped short of hitting him with it.
The 41-year-old man was later arrested by the police under Section 107 (apprehension of breach of peace and tranquility) and Section 151 (disruption of public peace) of the CrPC.
Kumar, wearing a striped T-shirt, was heard telling Dwivedi that "you cannot stop us from asking questions." He was immediately caught by a AICC staffer and some journalists and was removed from the briefing hall while being beaten up.
Dwivedi described the incident as "pre-planned" attack as he was to speak against Ramdev and his agitation which Congress leader said was conducted at the behest of Sangh Parivar.
"Whatever, I said has been proved by this one man. Had this (attack) not been orchestrated, the person would not have asked favourable questions so that there were no doubts," he said.
Under attack for forcefully ending Ramdev's protest, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday defended the police action saying there was no "alternative" while terming the incident as "unfortunate". It was for the first time that the Prime Minister ...
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said police action against yoga guru Ramdev's supporters was "unfortunate but unavoidable". He said his government was fighting corruption but had no magic wand to end it. As the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) ...
MANGALORE: The Pathanjaili Yoga Samiti here on Monday staged a dharna in front of the deputy commissioner's office in protest against the midnight swoop by the police to forcibly evict Baba Ramdev and his supporters from Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. ...
"It is unfortunate that operation had to be conducted but quite honestly, there was no alternative," Singh said at a sideline of a function, when asked about the midnight police action to disrupt Ramdev's anti-corruption protest.
New Delhi: As political polarisation over yoga guru Ramdev intensified, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government why it forcibly evicted him along with his supporters from the Ramlila grounds in ...
KANPUR: The lathicharge on Baba Ramdev and his followers on Saturday night at Ram Leela ground in Delhi is being condemned. Members of various social organisations and activists of BJP burnt the effigies of Congress and Sonia Gandhi at various places ...
Seizing the opportunity to corner the government after the midnight action against Baba Ramdev kicked up controversy, the BJP went ballistic on Monday, likening the police action to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the Emergency. ...
The high drama at central Delhi's Ramlila ground on Saturday night, when police swooped down on yoga guru Baba Ramdev's arena of anti-corruption protest, was in accordance with scripts peculiar to such 'movements', said sources in the Delhi police. ...
Place: NAGPUR | Agency: PTI Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) tonight lashed at the Centre for its midnight crackdown on protesters, including women and children, at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, while admitting that it "extended" support to yoga guru Baba ...
PTI | Jun 6, 2011, 10.29pm IST NEW DELHI: Ten men were arrested in connection with the violence at Ramlila Maidan during police action against Baba Ramdev and his followers while they were protesting against corruption. "We have arrested ten men in ...
Ten men were arrested in connection with the violence at Ramlila Maidan during police action against Baba Ramdev [ Images ] and his followers while they were protesting against corruption. "We have arrested 10 men in connection with Sundays' violence ...
Resentment prevails among the residents of the native village of Baba Ramdev in Mahendergarh district of Haryana against the police action on the Satyagrahis in Delhi's Ramlila ground on the intervening night of June 4 and 5 last.
A combative Congress launched an all-out offensive on Monday against Baba Ramdev, social activist Anna Hazare and the BJP, accusing them of trying to destabilise the country through "orchestrated" campaigns.
PTI | 09:06 PM,Jun 06,2011 Ratlam (MP), Jun 6 (PTI) After senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh, the Congress General Secretary, in-charge of Madhya Pradesh, BK Hariprasad has criticised Yoga guru Baba Ramdev by calling him a 'dhongi' (fraud) here ...
Place: Dehra Dun | Agency: PTI Former BJP leader Uma Bharti and the party's state president Bishan Singh Chufal today met Baba Ramdev and expressed solidarity with the Yoga guru who resumed his stir against graft here after being evicted from Delhi's ...
Dwivedi was busy replying to the questions of journalists, mostly related to police action against yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Saturday midnight, when the man, identified as Sunil Kumar, came on the dais and waved a shoe at him in the full view of TV ...
PATNA: CM Nitish Kumar on Monday once again deplored the midnight police action against yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his supporters at Ramlila ground in Delhi and said the Centre should explain its position on the police action to the Supreme Court.
PTI | Jun 6, 2011, 04.44pm IST BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is observing a 24-hour fast in support of the 'satyagarha' launched by Baba Ramdev on repatriation of black money and to protest the police action against the ...
Mangalore/Udupi, Jun 6: The 'alleged atrocity' on Baba Ramdev has drawn huge support of the various like-minded organizations in the twin districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada.
ALLAHABAD: Reacting against ongoing drama of hunger strike of Baba Ramdev, former advocate general of UP, SMA Kazmi, has termed it the best example of the growing trends of consumerism in present socio-political scenario.
VARANASI: Why did police crackdown on sleeping stayagrahis, including women and children, and supporters of Baba Ramdev at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi?
PANAJI: NGOs, institutions, political leaders and representatives of various organizations on Sunday gathered at Azad Maidan in Panaji to condemn the midnight crackdown on Baba Ramdev and his supporters in New Delhi. Around 250 people participated in ...
It was not that long back that Baba Ramdev, a Yadav from Haryana, was just a superior yoga instructor with a mass following, a people's Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, whose clientele was at the upper end of the social spectrum.
NEW DELHI: With the truce bid between the government and Baba Ramdev collapsing in a heap of mutual recriminations, the Centre is probing the yoga guru's multi-crore empire for tax violations relating to more than 200 companies he and his associates ...
CHANDIGARH: Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee President Phool Chand Mullana has accused Baba Ramdev of playing with people's sentiment in the guise of yoga and religion.
PTI | 05:06 PM,Jun 06,2011 Guna (MP), Jun 6 (PTI) In the background of the agitation launched by Baba Ramdev on repatriation of black money stashed in foreign banks, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industries, Jyotiraditya Scindia, ...
PTI The crackdown on yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his followers at the Ramlila Grounds in New Delhi is an 'internal Indian issue,' a US official said on Monday and ruled out to compare this incident with the Tiananmen Square in China.
RAJKOT: VHP terms action against Ramdev 'attack on Hinduism': The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) termed the police action against Baba Ramdev "an attack on Hinduism and inhuman". In a press conference at Siddhpur in Patan district on Sunday, ...
High drama unfolded at the AICC headquarters when a man threatened Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi, who was addressing the media, with a shoe. Dwivedi was busy replying to the questions of journalists, mostly related to police action ...
The Congress today levelled charges of a "RSS-BJP backed conspiracy" after a man posing as a journalist tried to throw a shoe at its chief spokesman, Janardan Dwivedi. The assailant, Sunil Kumar, reportedly hailed from Rajasthan and claimed he ...
PTI | 10:06 PM,Jun 06,2011 New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) BJP today condemned the attempt by a man to hit senior Congress leader Janardhan Dwivedi saying there were better ways of expressing resentment. "We condemn the incident. There may be resentment against ...
"We condemn the incident. There may be resentment against Congress but it should be expressed with dignity," former BJP President Rajnath Singh said here.
PTI Putting up a brave front amid Opposition's criticism of the midnight crackdown at Ramlila Maidan, Congress on Monday launched a no-holds-barred attack on Baba Ramdev and the BJP accusing them of trying to destabilise the government at the Centre. ...
New Delhi, June 6 (IBNS) Congress leader Janardhan Dwivedi had a narrow escape from a 'shoe attack' during a press conference here on Monday. Sunil Kumar, claiming to be a journalist of Nav Sanchar Patrika, attempted to throw a shoe at Dwivedi as he ...
NEW DELHI: A man threatened Congress leader Janardan Dwivedi with a shoe at a press conference here Monday. The latter quickly dubbed it as a pre-planned attack. Dwivedi was busy slamming yoga guru Ramdev and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ...
The attempted shoe attack on Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi at a press conference in New Delhi on Monday shows an element of desperation within the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), party spokesman ...
PTI | Jun 6, 2011, 05.40pm IST NEW DELHI: High drama was witnessed at the AICC headquarters here on Monday when a person posing as a journalist tried to attack party general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi with a shoe, apparently miffed over the treatment ...
PTI The man who tried to attack Congress leader Janardhan Dwivedi with a shoe in Delhi by posing as a journalist of a Rajasthan fortnightly is not associated with any newspaper in the State. Hailing from Dhod area in Sikar district, Sunil Kumar used to ...
A man tried to throw a shoe at Congress leader Janardhan Dwivedi when the politician was criticising yoga guru Baba Ramdev and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) at a press conference in party headquarters in New Delhi on Monday evening. ...
New Delhi: Getting tough with Anna Hazare's team, the government on Monday issued a virtual ultimatum to them on being part of the anti-corruption Lokpal bill negotiations. The Lokpal panel draft committee met on Monday without the participation of ...
Calling it as a "fundamental right", the India Against Corruption team led by social activist Anna Hazare on Monday dared Delhi Police commissioner to prevent the people from reaching Jantar Mantar where they plan to hold a day-long fast on Wednesday. ...
A combative Congress launched an all-out offensive on Monday against Baba Ramdev, social activist Anna Hazare and the BJP, accusing them of trying to destabilise the country through "orchestrated" campaigns. The Congress also backed Prime Minister ...
"Whether or not civil society members attend meetings, we will work to draft Lokpal Bill by June 30," Union Minister Kapil Sibal said.
Stating that the government is shocked at the comments made by veteran social activist Anna Hazare's team, Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal on Monday said steps as these would only slow down the drafting of the Lokpal ...
PTI | 09:06 PM,Jun 06,2011 New Delhi, June 6 (PTI) Anna Hazare backing Ramdev has brought to the fore a sharp divide with Congress and government on one side and the civil society representatives on the other casting a shadow over the Joint Committee ...
The Congress today maintained its silence on the police action at Ramdev's protest congregation, but offered its support to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Janardan Dwivedi, the party's chief spokesperson, said, "People become sanyasis through ...
The sudden crackdown on Baba Ramdev's campaign against black money and corruption has been a giant government misstep. If it indeed believed, as senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh stated, that the Baba was an inconsequential 'thug', ...
New Delhi: On the backfoot on Baba Ramdev, the government on Monday attacked Anna Hazare's team with Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal saying that the Lokpal bill is being prepared despite the boycott by the civil society members. ...
Place: New Delhi | Agency: PTI Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal said that issues raised by social activist Anna Hazare and Shanti Bhushan have been 'extraneous'. "The demand for public debate is not in the ...
NEW DELHI: Manmohan Singh government's high-risk move in evicting Baba Ramdev from the Capital after a midnight police raid on his camp at Ramlila Maidan here has brought together rival factions of civil society, besides exposing the Centre and ...
Resentment prevails among the residents of the native village of Baba Ramdev in Mahendergarh district of Haryana against the police action on the Satyagrahis in Delhi's Ramlila ground on the intervening night of June 4 and 5 last. ...
PTI | 09:06 PM,Jun 06,2011 Khadse said that the government could have waited till the morning, till a decision about what action could be taken, was made. "It was for the first time, that atrocity was unleashed on the people, who were protesting for a ...
PTI | 09:06 PM,Jun 06,2011 Pune, June 6 (PTI) Responding to the BJP's call to protest against government crackdown on Baba Ramdev's agitation, the Pune unit of the party today observed a day- long sit-in, raising anti-Congress slogans. ...
"Ramdev's statement, that the incident happened in New Delhi at the behest of Sonia Gandhi and she will be responsible if anything happens to him, is aimed at gaining cheap publicity and shows vested interests," Gehlot said here.
JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief minister Ashok Gehlot today accused Baba Ramdev of trying to gain cheap publicity by levelling "false" allegations against UPA chairperon Sonia Gandhi that the midninght police crackdown at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan was carried out ...
The gloves are off. Under attack from all sides for the action against Ramdev, Sonia Gandhi now plans an offensive to counter the after-effects and take on the communal and other forces who, it charged, have joined hands to weaken democratic ...
The government and Baba Ramdev had agreed on a script to withdraw the agitation he had started. It entailed the government appearing sensitive to his demands and Ramdev withdrawing the agitation latest by Saturday evening. But the entire plan went awry ...
The UPA's woes with Ramdev started with the Congress' new tactic: dealing directly with civil society members to prove that the party is transparent when it comes to fighting corruption ...
NEW DELHI: "Ab to gale lag jao swamiji (now we can exchange a hug)," telecom minister Kapil Sibal told Baba Ramdev at the end of their nerve sapping over five-hour negotiations on Friday. "You can afford a smile now surely," he told the yoga guru. ...
New Delhi: Who authorised the midnight swoop on Baba Ramdev? Sonia Gandhi sought to distance herself from the midnight operation against Baba Ramdev. Sources say she was upset with the government decision. Is it possible she was not in the know? ...
The fast that Baba Ramdev began on Saturday as his fight against black money and corruption will continue, as an understanding between the Baba and the government remained elusive with both sides talking tough. The day also saw cracks appearing in the ...
Swami Ramdev (Hindi: स्वामी रामदेव), born Ram Krishna Yadav, is a HinduYogi, also known as Baba Ramdev. Swami Ramdev has gained popularity for his teachings of Yoga,Pranayama and public stance on a number of political and medical issues, especially recently with his movement against corruption in India.[1]
He was born as Ram Krishna Yadav to Gulabo Devi and Ram Nivas Yadav in the village Ali Saiyad Pur (Alipur) ofMahendragarh district in Haryana state of India. He was inspired by the portraits of Ram Prasad 'Bismil' and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose that were hung in his room. According to his statements in an open Yog Shivir at Shahjahanpur, when he grew up and read the autobiography of Ram Prasad 'Bismil', his mind was totally cleansed. After completing his middle education of eighth standard from ShahjadpurHaryana, he joined Aarsh (Arya) Gurukul, Khanpur and studied Sanskrit andYoga under the guidance of Achary Pradumn.
After he received teachings from Achary Baldevji, believed by many to be a saint[citation needed], he renounced worldly life, entering into Sanyas and changing his name from Ram Krishna to Swami Ramdev.[2] (Note: The Hindi word swami means master).
In Kalva Gurukul of Jind district in Haryana India he offered free training of Yog to villagers for some time. Then he moved to Haridwar and spent several years studying ancient Indian scriptures at Gurukul Kangari. This included a rare book ofAurobindo Ghosh- Yogik Sadhan, translated from Bangla into Hindi by Ram Prasad 'Bismil'.[3] After reading this small booklet he went to the caves of Himalaya and practiced intense self-discipline and meditation.
Contemporary life and fame
He shot into prominence when he started the Divya Yog Mandir Trust with the company of Achary Bal Krishna. In 2003, Aastha TV began featuring him in its morning yoga slot. Within a few years, he had gathered a huge following.[4] He is known for his efforts of popularizing yoga. The New York Times called him "an Indian, who built Yoga Empire, a product and symbol of the New India, a yogic fusion of Richard Simmons, Dr. Oz and Oprah Winfrey, irrepressible and bursting with Vedic wisdom".[5] His yog-camps are attended by a large number of people in India and abroad.
His flagship project is Patanjali Yog Peeth (a registered Trust which was inaugurated on August 6, 2006 by Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, then Vice President of India). The primary aim of this institution is to build India the world's largest centre forAyurved and Yoga with the facilities of treatment, research and training.[6][7]
At present the trust offers free treatment to those who cannot afford to pay and for the rest, it is provided at a reasonable cost. Various institutions and medical organizations are also run by the Patanjali Yoga Peeth Trust to study and improve the effectiveness of yoga against diseases like diabetes,hypertension, obesity, etc. Recently the second phase ofPatanjali Yoga Peeth has also started its working.
Patanjali Ayurved College, Patanjali Chikitsalaya, Yog Gram, Go-Shala, Patanjali Herbal Botanical Garden, Organic Agriculture Farm, Patanjali Food And Herbal Park Ltd are some of its affiliated institutions which are run under the guidance of Swami Ramdev and his close associate Acharya Bal Krishn. Some useful books are also published by its sister concern Divy Prakashan. Yog Sandesh is its authorised journal which is being published in 11 languages viz. Hindi, English,Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Bengali, Oriya, Assamese, Nepali,Kannada and Telugu. Monthly readership of this multi-lingual journal is more than one million.[8]
Patanjali Yog Peeth has acquired a Scottish Island for about £2 million to set up a wellness retreat. The Little Cumbrae Island, off the fishing town of Largs in Scotland, will also serve as the Patanjali Yog Peeths base overseas, where yoga will be taught. The acquisition of the land itself was carried out by a Scottish couple of Indian origin, Sam and Sunita Poddar, to expand the base of Yog in abroad. This project will be run by Patanjali Yogpeeth (UK) Trust.[9]
Political and Social Campaigns
Ramdev has clarified that he has no political ambitions and is not interested in starting a political party, but feels it's his obligatory duty to reform social and political ambiguities apart from popularising yoga and thus strengthen the country.[10][11]
He has raised a number of political, social and economic issues through his yoga camps (in Hindi Yog Shivir). Most of the issues raised by him demand a drastic change in the governance policies of India.
Bharat Swabhiman
For changing governance policies, he has initiated a movement named Bharat Swabhiman along with Rajiv Dixit.
The five goals[12] of Bharat Swabhiman campaign are:
100% voting
100% nationalist thought,
100% boycott of foreign companies and adoption ofswadeshi,
100% unification of the people of the nation and
100% yoga-oriented nation.
As a part of campaign, Baba Ramdev has been organising yoga camps across India to create awareness amongst people against corruption and black money.
On agriculture and dietary practices
In many yog shivir (yoga camps), he has raised the issue of increased consumption of fast foods, packed foods and soft drinks by the people. According to him these products can cause diseases and so they must not be eaten. He has also claimed that commercially available aerated drinks are harmful to due to the presence of phosphoric acids, preservatives, unknown chemicals and emulsifiers. He claims that these drinks are very harmful to the entire body and especially the stomach lining if consumed. He has also made statements along the lines of "Cold Drinks means Toilet Cleaner" and has claimed that these cold drinks are more effective at cleaning toilets than commercially available toilet cleaners.[13] He urges people in his public meetings to pledge not to consume commercial aerated drinks, to protect individual health as well as to avoid Indian wealth being transferred to multinational companies. Instead he advices the public to consume hot water, milk or traditional Indian juices only so that India may become prosperous.
He has also claimed that the use of fertilizers and pesticides has led to an undue economic load on farmers and increased the profits of large business houses involved in the business. He also claims that these practices are harmful to the general public, since the farming produce is contaminated with inorganic fertilizers and pesticides.[14] Due to this practice, the farming land is also becoming barren. He also blames corrupt practices for the miserable conditions of the poor farmers and other backward class of the society. He says that althoughagriculture is the biggest contributor to India's economy, farmers are the most poverty stricken class of the country.[citation needed](Note:The former half of the statement is incorrect, see Economy of India)
Illegal Mining
According to Bharat Swabhiman Trust, there is permission for only 200 mining leases but about one hundred thousands illegal mines are operational in the country.[15] He also describes illegal mining in India as one of the major social issue that requires an immediate ban.
In February 2011, he gave the following steps for eradication of black money.[17] :
Withdrawal and demonetizing of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes - so as to avoid misuse of unaccounted money and quick arrest of the entire locally circulated black money, bribing, and fake note traffic.
Agree to and accept the U.N. Convention against Corruption – pending since 2006.
Death penalty provision for the corrupt persons in Indian Penal Code.
Access, monitor and disrupt payment gateway servers enabling corrupt people to manage money in tax havens.
Scrutinizing accounts of people having credit/debit cards of foreign banks without any foreign work/relation.
Disabling operations of any bank from a tax haven country.
The practicality of such steps has been called into question.[10][who?]
He has raised the issue of Indian money stashed away illegally in Swiss Bank which is estimated to be anywhere between 1 to 1.5 trillion USD. He says that the government must take immediate action and bring back the money as it belongs to the people of India. Not only this he openly charges that this black money has been taken out of the country illegally and also very strongly demands a capital punishment to all those Indians or N.R.I.s, who acquire, handle and stash black money. He suggests that Mauritius route is a tax haven for black money operators in India and this route should be cut effectively by the Indian government. He had also demanded (as early as September 2009) the removal of currency of denominations of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000, saying that this would curb corruption, black money and terrorism.[18][19]
In 2011, Swami Ramdev declared at Bangalore that he will be on hunger strike from June 4, 2011 in Delhi and asked his followers to join his crusade.[20][21] He declared one of the main objective of the movement is to root out the corruptionand bring back the black money stashed away in various financial institutions in the country and abroad.
On May 28, the government set up a panel to suggest steps to curb black money and its transfer abroad, in an apparent bid to placate Ramdev.[22] Afterwards, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wrote to Ramdev and requested him to cancel his fast, but Ramdev refused.[23] He booked Ramlila maidan of Delhi for 1 month in protest of black money and declared 4th June as start date of fast-unto-detah.When Ramdev arrived at Delhi airport on June 1, he was met by four senior ministers of the UPA government, who tried to persuade him about the government's tough stand on corruption.[24]. 65,000 followers of the yoga teacher had gathered at Ramlila maidan[25] By noon queues extending upto 3 km from the entry point of Ram Lila Grounds and were seen chanting 'Vande Matram'.In a press conference in the evening Kapil Sibbal made public a letter from Ramdev's camp to call off the hunger strike. Ramdev took it as a betrayal and hardened position.
At the midnight,Police raided the ground when most Satyagrahis were sleeping and Ramdev was busy at a meeting with his core group.[26] A large police force lobbed tear gasshells and lathicharged to evict the crowd at 1am to 4 am.Police had arranged buses to drop supporters at railway stations and bus stands in advance; had ammunition ready and were in battle-gear wearing vests and helmets and kept some ambulances on standby.
Delhi Police kept Ramdev in a government guesthouse for a few hours and then sent his ashram in Haridwar in police custody accompanied. [27].Police firing tear gas and angry people attacking security forces with stones and released subsequently and issued an externment.Reportedly 30 persons were injured and were treated at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) hospital,AIIMS trauma center and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.[28][29] Protesters huddled near the Metro station, bus depots and railway stations. Many walked down to Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and other nearby ashrams.[30]According to New Delhi railway station authorities, supporters continued to leave in batches through the course of the day. While several supporters spent the day at a park near Ramlila Maidan, others took shelter at an Arya Samaj facility in Paharganj.[31]
Baba Ramdev was taken by police out side Delhi and prohibited him from entering Delhi for 15 days. After being banned from entering Delhi for the next 15 days, Union Home Secretary G K Plillai said the Baba was on his way to his ahram in Haridwar in police custody.[32] In a press conference, Swami Ramdev said that his fast-unto-death will continue.
About 5,000 supporters were still missing according to Baba Ramdev.[33] Dr Jadeep Arya, a key advisor on Ramdev's team, said that about 19 girls students from the Chotipur Gurukul, who were seated near the dais, are estimated to be still missing.[34] Behen Suman, women's representative of the Trust, said many of these girls were roughed up when the police tried to reach Ramdev and were crying since police officials were pulling their hair, dragging them and their clothes were torn. Police, however, said no one was missing.[35]
Aftermath of Delhi protest
Ramdev accused government of cheating him,he also alleged that there was a conspiracy to kill him and a "threat" was given to him during a meeting with senior ministers.[36]All party other than congress condemned the police action,called it "undemocratic",naked fascism[37],deplorable and shortsighted[38][39].It was even compared it with Emergency[37] andJalianwala[37].Apart from politicians he was supported by civil society as well.Activist Anna Hazare termed the crackdown of the agitation as "strangulation of democracy".He said "There was no firing otherwise the eviction was similar to Jallianwala Bagh massacre".[40]He boycotted his lokpal panel meeting with government on 6th June and decided to go on one day fast on 8th June.His allies Arvind Kejriwal,Shanti Bhushan,andSwami Agnivesh also criticised the police action to end the hunger strike[41]Protests were held in many different parts of country.[42] Protest were held in Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jammu, Lucknow among other several cities of India.[43]
Soon after this,a vacation bench of the Supreme Court of Indiacomprising justice B S Chauhan and justice Swatenter Kumar issued notices to the Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretary of Delhi, Delhi administration, and Delhi Police Commissioner asking them to respond within two weeks, after taking suo motu cognizance of forceful eviction of yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his followers from the Ramlila ground in New Delhi.[44]The National Human Rights Commission issued notices on June 6, 2011 to The Government of India and Delhi state government seeking reports within two weeks on the midnight crackdown on Baba Ramdev's supporters at Ramlila ground.[45]
Controversies and criticisms
Labour Law violations and Animal parts in medicines
In March 2005, 113 employees of Divya Yoga Mandir Trust, Haridwar started an agitation for minimum wages and employees' rights such as coverage under the Provident Fundand Employees' State Insurance schemes. After a tripartite meeting, an agreement was reached between the workers, management and the district administration. However, some agitating workers were dismissed by the Trustees after being alleged to be responsible for sabotage. Their case was taken up by the trade union Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), affiliated to the Communist Party of India (Marxist). They are still to be reinstated.[46][47]
Brinda Karat, a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was involved with the protesters and was told by disgruntled workers that animal parts were used in the manufacture of some medicines. In January 2006, she accused the Divya Pharmacy, owned by Divya Yog Mandir Trust for using human and animal bones in their medicines. Samples of the medicines Kulya Bhasm (Mixture) and Yauvanamrit Vatipurchased from Brahmakalp Chikitsalaya- the Trust's Hospital at Haridwar were allegedly tested at government labs and the presence of animal materials in the sample was confirmed.[46]However, the source of the samples was disputed, as these had been supplied by Karat to the labs and not procured by government officials. Karat produced what were claimed to be the prescription and cash receipt obtained from the medicine counter for the samples povided.[47][48][46]
A few month later in 2006, four samples were sent to the government recognized Shriram Institute of Industrial Research in Delhi. The report from this institute declared that the samples did not contain any objectionable ingredient and were purely herbal.[citation needed] However, the Union Health Ministry did find animal DNA in the samples, though most newspapers carried reports to the contrary.[51]
Views on AIDS and sex education
In December 2006, Swami Ramdev claimed to cure diseases such as AIDS and cancer through yoga and ayurvedic drugs sold by his Divya Yoga Mandir Trust. He also went on to suggest that sex education should be replaced by yoga, which was the way to AIDS awareness, prevention and cure.[52] "Sex education in schools need to be replaced by yoga education," Ramdev told reporters at the state health minister's residence. As a consequence of these public statements he was sent acease and desist order by the Indian Union Health Ministry to avoid making such claims in the future, and the civil society threatened legal action.[53] In response, Ramdev retracted his statement and said the claims were not directly his, but those of patients who practiced yoga.[54]
Claims of curing cancer
Other press reports quoted him as claiming to have a cure forcancer of the breast, liver, prostate, uterus, pituitary gland, brain tumors and leukemia by practicing the seven breathing exercises. In a residential camp held in Yog Gram, Haridwar during 19–25 June 2008, several cancer patients stepped forward to recount first-hand stories of their successful bouts with blood, prostate and breast cancer using Pranayam or breathing exercises.[55] Swami Ramdev has claimed having documented proof of his successes, but has failed to provide any to the media or the Ministry of Health.
Views on homosexuality
In July 2009, when Delhi High Court gave a verdict underdecriminalizing homosexuality in Delhi, the swami called a press conference and said, "this verdict of the court will encourage criminality and sick mentality. This kind of thing is shameful and insulting to all of us. We are blindly following the West in everything. This is breaking the family system in India. Homosexuals are sick people, they should be sent to hospitals for treatment. If the government brings this law, I will take this matter to the streets of Delhi in protest."[56]
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