BJP sees greater dividend in indirect support to Ramdev

Worried about the erosion in vote bank if Baba decides to join mainstream politics.

Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has offered moral support to Baba Ramdev’s hunger strike, it believes it could benefit more from the movement by not getting directly involved.

Given the growing sentiment in the country against corruption and the union government, senior leaders might hope to get mileage out of the anti-corruption movements launched by Ramdev and Anna Hazare, the BJP leadership believes.
 

YOGIC FAST: DAY 1

4:30 PM
Prime Minister calls Pranab Mukherjee

4:50 PM
Mukherjee convenes urgent strategy meeting in his office

5:00 PM
Kapil Sibal, P Chidambaram, A K Antony, Subodh Kant Sahay, cabinet secretary K M Chandarsekhar meets Mukherjee

5:30 PM
PM talks to Kapil Sibal

5:40 PM
Sibal, Subodh Kant Sahay talk to Ramdev. Ask him to end fast

6:00 PM
Ramdev addresses the gathering in Ramleela Maidan. Cries intimidation

6:45 PM
Sibal, Sahay hold press conference. Release Ramdev’s letter and threaten to be firm

“Why should the BJP get directly involved? It’s an independent movement which is building up against Congress and it is beneficial to us. We have already supported Baba Ramdev’s movement. If we join, it would only politicize it further and might affect the anti-corruption fight,” said a senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader deputed in the BJP.

Interestingly, the RSS has openly supported Ramdev’s hunger strike. Senior leaders like Rithambara have also addressed the gathering at the Ramlila ground. Although the BJP leadership is supporting Ramdev, the party fears his growing popularity as both BJP and Ramdev have the same vote bank. If the latter chooses to join politics or launch his own party, the BJP would be the worst hit.

“It is good that Ramdev is fighting against corruption. However, we are not very enthusiastic as it is not clear what the yoga guru plans to do after his fast is over. We are not sure of his political ambitions. If he doesn’t want to join politics, we will get the benefit. But, if he floats his own party, it is going to affect our vote base,” said a senior BJP leader.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leaders attacked Congress for not supporting Ramdev’s movement completely. “The entire country, except the Congress, is with Ramdev,” said Murli Manohar Joshi, chairman of the public accounts committee (PAC). He is currently in Lucknow for the national executive.

Party leaders say that even as Ramdev has managed to get a large number of people involved, the movement should not give a chance to the union government to ignore the demands raised by Anna Hazare.

“The issues raised by Ramdev are justified but it should not allow the union government to get away from the demands raised by Anna Hazare,” said Maneka Gandhi, also in the city for the national executive.
 

WHAT BABA WANTS...

Declare Indian accounts in tax havens as national property
The government of India (GoI) must declare all tax haven accounts of Indian corrupts as national property through an ordinance and, later, with the enactment of a bill. This is a very easy step to execute as it does not conflict with any foreign policy, treaty or agreement.
GoI response: Cannot give any commitment on an ordinance

Declare stashing away black money in tax havens a national crime 
The government must declare the stashing away of black money in Swiss banks a ‘Rajdroh’ or national crime as it has led to disasters in the country. 883 people die every hour because of malnutrition and hunger whereas corrupt people are carrying out scams worth lakhs of crores. The same could be used for the nation’s development. 
GoI: Committee set up which, in six months, will announce how black money can be declared a national asset

Death penalty and lifetime imprisonment for the corrupt
The government must pass a law to enforce death penalty or lifetime imprisonment on those found guilty of corrupt practices.
GoI: There is pressure on India to do away with capital punishment. Under the circumstances, it is difficult to grant this demand.

Enactment of a strong Lok Pal
The government must enact a strong Lok Pal which can control corruption in the country.
GoI: Completely in agreement. Already being done.

Setting up of fast-track courts in states to deal specifically with corruption issues 
GoI: 71 special courts set up. More in the pipeline.

Removal of high denomination currency notes to prevent black money formation
Today, we have 100 lakh crores of black money circulating in the economy. Currency notes of '1,000 and '500 make it easier for the corrupt to transport, carry and store large sums of money for illegal and corrupt dealings.
GoI: This is not possible for a variety of reasons.

Educational curriculum in Indian languages 
Curriculum and examinations of engineering, medical, agriculture courses should be made available in Indian languages as fast as possible so that even a villager can get proper education, instead of being deprived in the name of a foreign language(English) being used as the primary mode of education.
GoI: AICTE has set up a committee of experts to provide technical education in national languages. The same will be given in three months. 

Abolish the Land Acquisition Act 
The act was brought by the British to loot us and it is a shame we still have this law.
GoI: A land acquisition act is already in the works.

Direct election of the Prime Minister
History has shown that indirect selection of prime ministers has only led to political troubles as most of the time the PM is busy safeguarding his chair, putting national interest at stake. The PM should be directly elected by the people and be accountable to the citizens.
GoI: This is not possible as the constitutional scheme of things is different.

Enactment of a strong Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act
If any citizen is denied service by a government official within a stipulated time period, the concerned official will have to pay penalty in the form of money to the particular citizen on a daily/weekly basis. 
GoI: A variant of this is being finalised.