Under attack for his proposal to raise an armed force, Ramdev today said he was not trying to train terrorists or Maoists but only wanting to set up a "nationalist" force.
"I am not making terrorists, Naxalites and Maoists. I am only developing a nationalist force. It is for self-defence," Ramdev, who is continuing his fast against corruption, told his followers at Patanjali Yogapeeth here.
He was reacting to a volley of criticism on his plans to raise a 11,000-strong force to deal with police and anti-social elements attempting to disrupt his anti-corruption campaign.
"If our women are able to safeguard themselves then nobody will dare to harm them and if our men are able then they can defend any Ramlila ground-type attack," he said.
"My words should be taken in the right context. People should understand what I have said.I want to train them for self-defence. Shaastra means knowledge and shastra means self-defence," Ramdev said, referring to his comments yesterday that young men will be trained in both shaastra (vedas) and shastra (weapons).
Criticising the yoga guru, Home Minister P Chidambaram had said yesterday that "by making that statement, he [Ramdev] has exposed his true colours and true intentions. Let him do so and the law will deal with that..You have to observe some discipline".
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"It is anti-national and we have to take action," said V Narayanswamy, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.
Congress said Ramdev's call for an armed rebellion is a serious issue and hoped that the government will take appropriate action to uphold the Constitution and maintain law and order.