The first day of Baba Ramdev’s hunger-strike against corruption at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi seemed like every bit of a spectacle that the Congress feared. However, as fiery as the Baba was in his speeches, talks continued with government representatives for the third day and they seemed to have significantly neutralised his approach till the drama of mutual betrayal unfolded towards the end of the day.
“The talks continued today. The government has made major assurances. However, we aren’t compromising on certain issues. Only time will tell how much we compromise,” said one of Ramdev’s advisors before charges of betrayal flew thick and fast. The contentious issue was understood to be the process through which black money could be brought under the purview of a strict judicial procedure.
But, the day ended with acrimony. First, the Congress launched a two-pronged attack on Ramdev. On the one hand, party leaders Digvijaya Singh and Abhishek Manu Sanghvi openly criticised him for allegedly taking help from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party for organising the campaign at the Ramlila Maidan. Later, Kapil Sibal, who had earlier held several rounds of talks with Ramdev, accused him of going back on his words of ending the fast.
Sibal said that Ramdev had given a written assurance to the government about ending the fast. The letter was signed by Ramdev’s aide. Ramdev said that the letter was meant only for the Prime Minister and was not to be made public. But, Sibal made the letter public, which was signed, he said, by one “acharya”. (Ramdev later identified the acharya as Balakrishna, who runs the main ashram of Ramdev in Haridwar.)
The letter, written in Hindi, reads as under:
As per the consent of respected Swami Ramdevji:
The government has given reply in writing to the issues raised by us.
We agree that the government will not only consider these issues seriously but also give an advance assurance to take concrete steps to push these issues forward.
We did not have full agreement on some issues but we are confident that the government will remain committed on whatever assurances it has given and take time-bound decision on some issues.
In view of this understanding, we will undertake tap (prayers and chants) from 4 to 6 June and that this will be announced [by the Baba] tomorrow, June 4, in the afternoon.
Sibal said that he and the other negotiator Subodh Kant Sahay kept telephoning the Ramdev’s aides throughout the afternoon, wanting him to announce the end of the fast, but he did not do that and hence they decided to make public the commitment he had made.
Sibal said that he and the other negotiator Subodh Kant Sahay kept telephoning the Ramdev’s aides throughout the afternoon, wanting him to announce the end of the fast, but he did not do that and hence they decided to make public the commitment he had made.
Ramdev reacted sharply to this disclosure by taking on the questions of the media at the Ramlila Maidan in front of his supporters. He took on the Congress, accused it of not being serious on tackling corruption and announced that his fast would continue. He also said that his fast and campaign were not communal in nature.
He said that the government is still adamant on forming a committee to consider a new law on corruption, which was not acceptable to him. He said that he would not listen to anybody except the Prime Minister. He also feared that the government is preparing ground to arrest him.
Earlier in the afternoon, Ramdev went out of the Ramlila Maidan and met some Congress leaders, where, supposedly, the letter was handed over to Sibal. Ramdev came back to the Ramlila Maidan at around 4:30 pm and addressed his followers. His speech, full of passionate rhetorical flourish, was markedly more subtle and sophisticated, an ability he is not well-known for. An obvious seal of Rashtriya Swabhiman Manch’s convenor and former BJP General Secretary KN Govindacharya was evident in his repititive appeals to “farmers, labourers, villagers and the poor”. Govindacharya, one of the top-most advisers to Ramdev is part of the movement and is understood to be one of the chief architects of the entire campaign.
Soon after, Sibal, tired at Ramdev not making any announcement to end the fast, called a press conference and made the letter public and accused Ramdev of going back on his words. After which, Ramdev launched the scathing attack on Sibal and the government.
Ramdev also rejected criticism around the inclusion of Sadhvi Ritambara in the campaign. He had shared the dias with him on Saturday morning. “There is something deeply wrong in the mindset of those who see communalism in a spiritualism gathering... Or truth is dead in them,” he said. “Some people are making irresponsible statements saying that Baba Ramdev is bringing instability in the country. I will pay any fine if I'm guilty of that... I have not sown seeds of communal hatred between Hindus and Muslims,” he said. “I am not initiating an ideological battle against anyone as for now,” he said in a rather carefully aimed statement.
Earlier in the day, it was a festive mood at the Ramlila Maidan. All roads from the New Delhi railway and metro stations led to the ground, as spirited crowds made their way to the venue of the fast. Tobacco, matchboxes, cigarettes, lighters and gutkas were banned inside the venue. The registration counters were the busiest sections of the ground, where all attendees had to fill up forms and enumerate personal details and the number of days for which they intend to fast. For the people who had made the long trip in the peak summer, it was more about responding to Ramdev’s call than having their own ideas on how to end corruption.
The stage, which is around 30 to 40 feet high from the ground level, had Ramdev seated with his close associates and religious leaders from the Muslim, Sikh and Jain community. Apart from Ritambara, another leader from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Pejawar Swami of the famous Pejawar Mutha of Udipi, shared the stage with Ramdev.
Social crusader Swami Agnivesh and Prashant Bhushan expressed reservations about against Ritambara’s presence on the stage. Bhushan said, “I don’t know why communal people are present on that stage. I think most of Baba Ramdev’s demands are reasonable, but, Ritambara’s presence might slightly show a glimpse of his political affiliations.”
“Sharing the dias with communal faces, like Sadhvi Ritambara, who is an accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case is not right, but, it’s their stage. They can bring anyone they want in their movement. I think people like Ritambara, who spew venom through their communal speeches, should not have been on that stage. It is my polite suggestion,” said Swami Agnivesh.
But, Ramdev’s informal way of addressing people won him many admirers as well. For many of his followers, the prospect of Ramdev leading a fight against corruption is inspiration enough to visit Delhi. As Hans Raj, 25, from Rajasthan’s Ganganagar district says, “I don’t know much about black money. I do <<yoga,>> and I admire Baba’s knowledge of yoga, which is why I am here.”
Rama Tai Jog, 77, from Ratnagiri goes one step ahead and says, “When a pure man like the Baba takes a cause as huge as this, we are all bound to follow. Any youth not participating in this movement should be ashamed.”
“The talks continued today. The government has made major assurances. However, we aren’t compromising on certain issues. Only time will tell how much we compromise,” said one of Ramdev’s advisors before charges of betrayal flew thick and fast. The contentious issue was understood to be the process through which black money could be brought under the purview of a strict judicial procedure.
But, the day ended with acrimony. First, the Congress launched a two-pronged attack on Ramdev. On the one hand, party leaders Digvijaya Singh and Abhishek Manu Sanghvi openly criticised him for allegedly taking help from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party for organising the campaign at the Ramlila Maidan. Later, Kapil Sibal, who had earlier held several rounds of talks with Ramdev, accused him of going back on his words of ending the fast.
Sibal said that Ramdev had given a written assurance to the government about ending the fast. The letter was signed by Ramdev’s aide. Ramdev said that the letter was meant only for the Prime Minister and was not to be made public. But, Sibal made the letter public, which was signed, he said, by one “acharya”. (Ramdev later identified the acharya as Balakrishna, who runs the main ashram of Ramdev in Haridwar.)
The letter, written in Hindi, reads as under:
As per the consent of respected Swami Ramdevji:
The government has given reply in writing to the issues raised by us.
We agree that the government will not only consider these issues seriously but also give an advance assurance to take concrete steps to push these issues forward.
We did not have full agreement on some issues but we are confident that the government will remain committed on whatever assurances it has given and take time-bound decision on some issues.
In view of this understanding, we will undertake tap (prayers and chants) from 4 to 6 June and that this will be announced [by the Baba] tomorrow, June 4, in the afternoon.
Sibal said that he and the other negotiator Subodh Kant Sahay kept telephoning the Ramdev’s aides throughout the afternoon, wanting him to announce the end of the fast, but he did not do that and hence they decided to make public the commitment he had made.
Sibal said that he and the other negotiator Subodh Kant Sahay kept telephoning the Ramdev’s aides throughout the afternoon, wanting him to announce the end of the fast, but he did not do that and hence they decided to make public the commitment he had made.
He said that the government is still adamant on forming a committee to consider a new law on corruption, which was not acceptable to him. He said that he would not listen to anybody except the Prime Minister. He also feared that the government is preparing ground to arrest him.
Earlier in the afternoon, Ramdev went out of the Ramlila Maidan and met some Congress leaders, where, supposedly, the letter was handed over to Sibal. Ramdev came back to the Ramlila Maidan at around 4:30 pm and addressed his followers. His speech, full of passionate rhetorical flourish, was markedly more subtle and sophisticated, an ability he is not well-known for. An obvious seal of Rashtriya Swabhiman Manch’s convenor and former BJP General Secretary KN Govindacharya was evident in his repititive appeals to “farmers, labourers, villagers and the poor”. Govindacharya, one of the top-most advisers to Ramdev is part of the movement and is understood to be one of the chief architects of the entire campaign.
Soon after, Sibal, tired at Ramdev not making any announcement to end the fast, called a press conference and made the letter public and accused Ramdev of going back on his words. After which, Ramdev launched the scathing attack on Sibal and the government.
Ramdev also rejected criticism around the inclusion of Sadhvi Ritambara in the campaign. He had shared the dias with him on Saturday morning. “There is something deeply wrong in the mindset of those who see communalism in a spiritualism gathering... Or truth is dead in them,” he said. “Some people are making irresponsible statements saying that Baba Ramdev is bringing instability in the country. I will pay any fine if I'm guilty of that... I have not sown seeds of communal hatred between Hindus and Muslims,” he said. “I am not initiating an ideological battle against anyone as for now,” he said in a rather carefully aimed statement.
Earlier in the day, it was a festive mood at the Ramlila Maidan. All roads from the New Delhi railway and metro stations led to the ground, as spirited crowds made their way to the venue of the fast. Tobacco, matchboxes, cigarettes, lighters and gutkas were banned inside the venue. The registration counters were the busiest sections of the ground, where all attendees had to fill up forms and enumerate personal details and the number of days for which they intend to fast. For the people who had made the long trip in the peak summer, it was more about responding to Ramdev’s call than having their own ideas on how to end corruption.
The stage, which is around 30 to 40 feet high from the ground level, had Ramdev seated with his close associates and religious leaders from the Muslim, Sikh and Jain community. Apart from Ritambara, another leader from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Pejawar Swami of the famous Pejawar Mutha of Udipi, shared the stage with Ramdev.
Social crusader Swami Agnivesh and Prashant Bhushan expressed reservations about against Ritambara’s presence on the stage. Bhushan said, “I don’t know why communal people are present on that stage. I think most of Baba Ramdev’s demands are reasonable, but, Ritambara’s presence might slightly show a glimpse of his political affiliations.”
“Sharing the dias with communal faces, like Sadhvi Ritambara, who is an accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case is not right, but, it’s their stage. They can bring anyone they want in their movement. I think people like Ritambara, who spew venom through their communal speeches, should not have been on that stage. It is my polite suggestion,” said Swami Agnivesh.
But, Ramdev’s informal way of addressing people won him many admirers as well. For many of his followers, the prospect of Ramdev leading a fight against corruption is inspiration enough to visit Delhi. As Hans Raj, 25, from Rajasthan’s Ganganagar district says, “I don’t know much about black money. I do <<yoga,>> and I admire Baba’s knowledge of yoga, which is why I am here.”
Rama Tai Jog, 77, from Ratnagiri goes one step ahead and says, “When a pure man like the Baba takes a cause as huge as this, we are all bound to follow. Any youth not participating in this movement should be ashamed.”