The UPA government appeared to be divided on the ongoing negotiations with Baba Ramdev to dissuade him from his fast beginning June 4. Several leaders are openly critical of the wisdom of the Centre in bowing before the yoga guru without getting anything in return.
In an unprecedented step, four ministers, including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal and Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay met Ramdev at the airport after he arrived in a chartered plane from Ujjain. Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekar had accompanied the ministers.
The move was criticised by the Congress party without reservation. The confusion was confounded by text messages from managers in the Prime Minister’s Office, stating reports that the PM had asked these ministers to go were incorrect. However, top government sources said the ministers went after they were asked to intervene. Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi said in a briefing that the party had not authorised any ministers to intercede, indicating that the party had washed its hands of the entire issue and unwittingly revealing a disconnect between the party and the government.
Initially, only Sibal and Bansal were to meet Ramdev but it was not clear how and when the others decided to join them.
“The talks will continue with Baba Ramdev over the next couple of days. We discussed a number of issues of national significance. The dialogue was not limited to a couple of issues. Ramdev also raised a broad number of issues,” Sibal told reporters. The Ministers will meet him again on 3 June.
Ramdev meanwhile refined his stand. He said he had no particular view on the Lok Pal Bill beyond the fact that it should be a ‘strong bill’ but wanted all black money that was stashed away abroad to be brought back. “Rs 50 lakh crore has come to India from Mauritius. The government must name tax evaders, shame them and punish them,” said Ramdev.
“On June four there will be a satyagraha (protest fast) in Ramlila Maidan as well as in 624 districts across India as crores of people want the country to be rid of black money, corruption and demand a change in the system.”
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To a question on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s appeal to him not to go ahead with his fast, he said: “I do not believe in fear or creating fear. We have raised issues of national interest. This fight is not against any person and any party. So we are not criticising anybody.” There appeared to be no political clarity in the Congress on the view the party should take of Ramdev’s protest. In February, senior Congress leader, Digvijay Singh said yoga guru Baba Ramdev needed to prove that money used to make his ashram was not black money and tax had been paid on it. Barely four months later, several ministers appeared to be pulling out all stops to placate the guru.
Meanwhile, hectic preparations - including the erection of a huge tent to accommodate 20,000 people - were in progress at the Ramlila grounds for Saturday’s fast. Ramdev has been supported by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) but the Bharatiya Janata Party, while ostensibly supporting him, has little time for him as the political party he has formed is seen as cutting into the base of the BJP. Significantly, Ramdev is not taking up issues like the construction of the Ram temple but quasi economic matters like poverty, corruption and the grey economy. Those who have watched him operation during the Ramjanmabhumi movement say he is an intensely political leader. It helps that he is a Yadav, not an upper caste leader from Haryana.