01 June,2011 06:20 AM IST | | Anurag Jadli
A 160-metre borewell has been set up at the Ramlila Grounds to ensure steady supply of water during the yoga guru's anti-corruption protest that begins on June 4. Delhi Jal Board says it didn't give permission
Several thousand people are likely to begin protest and an indefinite fast as part of a call against corruption by Baba Ramdev on June 4 at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. And the yoga guru has performed another miracle of sorts to ensure that the congregation doesn't go thirsty. For the last ten days organisers have been digging up the land to draw water through a borewell for 750 workers present there currently and the masses expected to assemble on the 4th. The only catch is, all this is being done without proper permission.
Ground reality: Labourers constructing the borewell for the protest
programme at Ramlila Grounds, scheduled to begin on Saturday.
Washing dirty linen in public! The finished borewell, connected to a
water tank with a capacity of five thousand litres. Pics/Imtiyaz Khan
Caught in the act
MiD DAY photographer Imtiyaz Khan caught workers preparing the borewell. Around five labourers were busy digging the land on Sunday and the reservoir became operational on Tuesday when a 5000 litre tank and water motor were installed. "We have been working here since May 9 and till now we were facing acute water shortage. There was no proper supply of drinking water and nowhere to take a bath. Now the borewell is here we have some relief," said Ram Prasad Yadav who has been involved in setting up the tents for the function at Ramlila Maidan.
Work in progress:u00a0 Preparations are on at the Ramlila Grounds.
(Encircled) The water tank. Pic/Mid Day
Big numbers
When this MiD DAY reporter got into the thick of things posing as a volunteer working at Ramilia Maidan, he was told that the approximate cost of the borewell and the five thousand litre water tank is Rs 35,000. A 160-metre deep hole has been dug into the ground to draw water. Organisers are expecting thousands of people to join the yoga guru during his fast. For the time being water from the borewell is being used by the labourers for consumption, bathing and construction purposes.
'Not right'
"First of all, digging on government land for water is totally illegal in Delhi. The person should take the permission from Delhi Jal Board. We have not given any permission to anybody to dig the land for borewell in our area and it was clearly mention in the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, Department of Delhi that, "In the whole of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, except in NDMC area, no person, group, authority, association or institution is allowed to draw ground water through borewell/tubewell for domestic, commercial and or industrial uses without the prior permission of the competent authority i.e. Delhi Jal Board," said Deep Mathur, spokesperson, MCD.
Even Delhi Jal Board denies giving any permission for these purposes "We haven't permitted the protest committee to draw water through borewell from the government's land as it is not allowed. There was no request to provide water tankers either. The process to gain permission is a long-drawn one. First, a person has to make a request to the MCD (the landowner in this case), the application is then received by DJB and then the permission is granted, if at all, by the local SDM. We haven't received any applications in this particular case. If a complaint is made to the local SDM then action will be taken in the matter," said Ramesh Negi, CEO, Delhi Jal Board.u00a0
The Other Side
I can't say anything on this issue but we are doing this protest for a good cause. We are arranging the water for the people and now you have a problem with this. Serving water to people is not illegal and I want you to support this event against corruption. This will be the first of a kind and mega event against corruption.
- SK Tijarawala, spokesperson for Baba Ramdev
Black and white
The Income Tax department on Tuesday said it is ready to consider Ramdev's suggestions for unearthing unaccounted money. "Ramdevji's suggestions were constructive and constructive ideas should be considered by the government," said Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman Sudhir Chandra , who had earlier briefed Ramdev on the steps being taken by the government to unearth black money. When asked about his meeting with the yoga guru, Chandra said, "I think Ramdevji was satisfied. I informed him about the steps government has taken during the past two years to bring back black money." The government has recently announced a series of steps including setting up of a criminal investigation wing in the income tax department to track and prosecute economic offenders.
You've got mail
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has appealed to Yoga guru Baba Ramdev to call off his proposed fast against corruption. In a letter to Ramdev, the Prime Minister said, "Corruption is a big problem and we are making serious efforts to tackle it. It's not a divisive issue. We have to work with Baba Ramdev and look for solutions. I have already asked him not to take recourse to an agitation." There is still time and we would like all concerned to cooperate, the PM said in his letter. While the government has been aggressively pacifying Baba Ramdev, Anna Hazare has been hearing some straight talk from the government. At the heart of the dispute is whether the Prime Minister should come under the purview of the Lokpal Bill. While Anna and most of his team remain adamant on that demand, Baba Ramdev has shown some flexibility by saying that the Prime Minister and higher judiciary should be kept away from the Lokpal purview.
Controversial figure
Employee Protests
In March 2005, 113 employees of Divya Yog Mandir Trust (founded by Ramdev), Haridwar started an agitation for minimum wages and employees' rights such as coverage under the Provident Fund and 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 of sabotage. Their case was taken up by a trade union controlled by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). They are still to be reinstated.
Animal parts in medicines
In January 2006, Brinda Karat, a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) 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 Vati purchased 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 not proved. She exhibited what she claimed to be in the prescription and cash receipt obtained from the medicine counter in support of her claim. Her controversial remarks have drawn strong condemnation from all over North India, decidedly the region he has most followers in, including reprimands from politicians like Sharad Pawar, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ambika Soni, and Narayan Dutt Tiwari. Subsequently she received a legal notice on the behalf of a BJP leader in Faridabad. A few months later in 2006, four samples were sent to the government recognised 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.
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 Yog 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. "Sex education in schools need to be replaced by yoga education," Ramdev told reporters at the state health minister's residence on Monday. As a consequence of these public statements he was sent a cease and desist order by the health ministry to avoid making such claims in the future, and the civil society threatened legal action. In response, Ramdev retracted his statement and said the claims were not directly his, but those of patients who practiced yoga.
Claims of curing cancer
Other press reports quoted him as claiming to have a cure for cancer of the breast, liver, prostate, uterus, pituitary gland, brain tumours and leukaemia 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. 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 under decriminalising homosexuality in Delhi, Baba 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."
