Govt courting Ramdev to neutralise Hazare, RSS?

Analysts say UPA would try to avoid a repeat of the Lokpal agitation

Analysts say UPA would try to avoid a repeat of the Lokpal agitation

Why did the government take the extraordinary step of deputing four senior Cabinet ministers at Delhi airport for receiving yoga guru Ramdev? The question was puzzling most people including even some politicians, senior bureaucrats and intellectuals across various fields. Many see it as an effort to counterbalance the Anna Hazare effect. "The government seemed on the back foot when Anna Hazare-led civil society mounted a campaign for a strong Lokpal in April. These steps will bring Ramdev on centre stage and give a positive message about the government not only among the Baba's followers, but the entire population," said a senior bureaucrat requesting anonymity.


Yoga guru Baba Ramdev surrounded by mediapersons after his
meeting with several ministers in Delhi on Wednesday.
PIC/Rajeev Tyagi

Others see this as a step to nip the RSS-factor in the bud. The Sangh is supporting Ramdev's movement. "As it has become more or less clear that Baba Ramdev won't launch any political party, Congress might be concerned about Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is backing Ramdev's satyagraha (protest fast), scheduled to be held at Ramlila Maidan as well as in 624 districts across the country. Crores of people are likely to participate, directly or indirectly. I believe, the government has inputs from its intelligence sources that the situation might take the shape of the 1974 JP movement," said Professor Rakesh Sinha, director, Indian Policy Foundation.

Mere speculation?
Or is there another possibility? "Government may be trying to stay in the same frame as Ramdev to discredit him in some ways, hoping that people would lose faith in him. His followers might start believing that his programme is an initiative of the government and this will confuse them. This will ensure that Ramdev would longer be a threat to the government," said another senior bureaucrat, wishing to remain anonymous. However, there are few who do not see any conspiracy and see this as a victory of people's power over the State.u00a0


Kapil Sibal and Pranab Mukherjee met Ramdev on Wednesday.
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Dr Ved Prakash Vaidik, journalist and political analyst, who was present during the dialogue between Ramdev and the ministers on Wednesday, said, "I do not see any hidden agenda behind it. The ministers have displayed a great gesture and respect to the massive force behind Baba. In fact, it is a tribute to our democratic system."

Behind closed doors
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held a meeting with his cabinet colleagues yesterday night, who had earlier tried to persuade Ramdev to withdraw his call for an indefinite fast from June 4. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee , Home Minister P Chidambaram and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal briefed Singh on their discussions with Ramdev during the meeting that lasted over an hour.

The leaders are also understood to have discussed the yoga guru's proposals and ways to defuse the situation.
Cabinet Secretary KM Chandraseker and Principal Secretary to the prime minister TKA Nair were also present in the meeting in which Singh was briefed about the parleys held with Ramdev.

Fruitless?
The government's efforts appeared to have not yielded immediate fruits as Ramdev insisted on "action" rather than "assurances" on the issue of bringing back black money stashed abroad. Sources said that Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, who was among the ministers who met Ramdev on Wednesday, will play a key role in persuading the yoga guru to call off his protest.

Sahay was in the US leading a delegation of his ministry when he was roped in by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to join the efforts to make the yoga guru call off his protest. In the two-hour long meeting with Union ministers, Ramdev is learnt to have demanded the constitution of a special committee on bringing back black money and making public the names of those who have stashed their ill-gotten money abroad. Besides the issue of black money, the yoga guru also raised the issue of acquisition of farm lands by government and uniformity in wages of workers, they said.

Changing tunes
A day after stating that the Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India should not be brought under the ambit of the proposed Lokpal Bill, Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev on Wednesday did a volte-face saying he did not make such a statement. He also said that he was firm on going ahead with his planned indefinite fast against corruption in Delhi from June 4, despite government's requests to put off the fast.

"I did not say that the proposed Lokpal Bill should not cover the Prime Minister and CJI as their posts are highly dignified," Ramdev told reporters after ending his one lakh km Bharat Swabhiman Yatra. "Keeping the PM and CJI out of the Lokpal''s ambit was never my personal opinion," he said, adding that there were talks in the public that these posts should not come under the ambit of Lokpal bill.