Yes, we supported Baba Ramdev: RSS

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) tonight lashed at the Centre for its midnight crackdown on protesters, including women and children, at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, while admitting that it "extended" support to yoga guru Baba Ramdev's agitation.
"The RSS was not behind the stir launched by Ramdev seeking repatriation of the black money stashed illegally in foreign banks but have extended all support to it (agitation)," RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said while addressing the outfit's workers at Reshimbagh ground in Nagpur.
He said that the RSS in its Puttur (Kerala) meeting had adopted a resolution to extend all support to Baba Ramdev.
"RSS cannot remain a mute spectator to the social revolution taking place against corruption and black money. Therefore, it has asked its cadres to join the agitation," Bhagwat said.
In any case without even asking, the swayamsevaks themselves are inculcated with a sense of responsibility to join such agitations which are of prime national interest, he said.
"What provoked the government to come down heavily on the followers of Baba Ramdev at Ramlila ground when they were simply agitating to stop corruption and unearthing of the black money?" Bhagwat asked, adding that the agitations of Ramdev and Anna Hazare should be above party politics.
The RSS chief, while condemning the midnight swoop and the events unfolded aftermath, questioned the Centre's "intention" in not holding further talks with the Yoga guru.
"(The) government should not stop the dialogue and the process must continue," he said, adding that when no one is opposed to the issues raised by the two social activists then where does the problem lie in holding a dialogue.
Some people have described it (the eviction of Ramdev and his supporters) as "Jallianwala Bagh"-like attack and for some it was a recall of the era of Emergency, he said at the concluding function of the annual third year camp of RSS workers in Nagpur.
Talking about black money stashed in foreign banks, Bhagwat said it certainly belonged to the people in the higher strata of the society. It is not that a poor man has collected his money and deposited in the Swiss bank.
The RSS chief also questioned legality of the proposed Anti Communal Riots Bill being drafted by the National Advisory Council (NAC), saying that the very existence of the NAC was unconstitutional.
Bhagwat, while expressing concern over instances of conversions, said the Tirupati Tirumala Devsthan area in Andhra Pradesh has witnessed sudden spurt in the number of conversions to Christianity.
Chief guest on the occasion, Dr Ganga Raju criticised the "mis-management" of funds of big temples, particularly the Tirupati shrine in Andhra Pradesh, by the politicians.
"Crores of rupees are being donated by the devotees and there is a need for proper utilisation of funds collected there," Gangaraju said demanding that the practise of conversion by allurement be stopped forthwith.
Meanwhile, Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham, Jayendra Saraswati, told the gathering that RSS was doing a yeoman's service in building nation and developing good human beings.

Yes, we supported Baba Ramdev: RSS

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) tonight lashed at the Centre for its midnight crackdown on protesters, including women and children, at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, while admitting that it "extended" support to yoga guru Baba Ramdev's agitation.
"The RSS was not behind the stir launched by Ramdev seeking repatriation of the black money stashed illegally in foreign banks but have extended all support to it (agitation)," RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said while addressing the outfit's workers at Reshimbagh ground in Nagpur.
He said that the RSS in its Puttur (Kerala) meeting had adopted a resolution to extend all support to Baba Ramdev.
"RSS cannot remain a mute spectator to the social revolution taking place against corruption and black money. Therefore, it has asked its cadres to join the agitation," Bhagwat said.
In any case without even asking, the swayamsevaks themselves are inculcated with a sense of responsibility to join such agitations which are of prime national interest, he said.
"What provoked the government to come down heavily on the followers of Baba Ramdev at Ramlila ground when they were simply agitating to stop corruption and unearthing of the black money?" Bhagwat asked, adding that the agitations of Ramdev and Anna Hazare should be above party politics.
The RSS chief, while condemning the midnight swoop and the events unfolded aftermath, questioned the Centre's "intention" in not holding further talks with the Yoga guru.
"(The) government should not stop the dialogue and the process must continue," he said, adding that when no one is opposed to the issues raised by the two social activists then where does the problem lie in holding a dialogue.
Some people have described it (the eviction of Ramdev and his supporters) as "Jallianwala Bagh"-like attack and for some it was a recall of the era of Emergency, he said at the concluding function of the annual third year camp of RSS workers in Nagpur.
Talking about black money stashed in foreign banks, Bhagwat said it certainly belonged to the people in the higher strata of the society. It is not that a poor man has collected his money and deposited in the Swiss bank.
The RSS chief also questioned legality of the proposed Anti Communal Riots Bill being drafted by the National Advisory Council (NAC), saying that the very existence of the NAC was unconstitutional.
Bhagwat, while expressing concern over instances of conversions, said the Tirupati Tirumala Devsthan area in Andhra Pradesh has witnessed sudden spurt in the number of conversions to Christianity.
Chief guest on the occasion, Dr Ganga Raju criticised the "mis-management" of funds of big temples, particularly the Tirupati shrine in Andhra Pradesh, by the politicians.
"Crores of rupees are being donated by the devotees and there is a need for proper utilisation of funds collected there," Gangaraju said demanding that the practise of conversion by allurement be stopped forthwith.
Meanwhile, Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham, Jayendra Saraswati, told the gathering that RSS was doing a yeoman's service in building nation and developing good human beings.

Defiant Baba Ramdev vows to return to Delhi, continue campaign

Defiant Baba Ramdev vows to return to Delhi, continue campaign
Baba Ramdev was back in his saffron attire, hours after he was evicted from the Ramlila Ground in Delhi during a late night crackdown by the government. But unlike during the day when he turned emotional while addressing the media, a determined Ramdev this time minced no words, declaring that his fast against corruption will continue.
"We will return to Delhi with the same agenda, with the same zeal and vigour. First thing is that today evening, we will tell you the location, either in Delhi or near Delhi. We will assemble...We will rally all over the nation, hold fast and dharnas; we will go to each house and tell people about government's action," he said while addressing a press conference at his ashram in Haridwar.

Launching a scathing attack on the government for the police action at his camp, Ramdev said, "The government has been ruthless towards women, children, we still don't know who has been thrown where? The government tried to suppress peaceful protests. One of our workers, Rajbala, is very serious; she will probably not make it. We have got a list of over a 100 people who are injured, like Ajay Arya whose both legs are broken; he can't even be operated upon. There are thousands like them who did nothing wrong. This is a huge blemish on the government." NDTV has the report

8:30 pm: Fast against corruption hasn't ended: Ramdev
A visibly emotional Baba Ramdev on Sunday accused the central government of betraying him and trying to kill him. Baba Ramdev upon reaching his ashram in the pilgrim city of Haridwar, after being evicted from Delhi said that his fast against corruption has not ended.

Ramdev alleged that the police crackdown was a plan to kill him and that is the reason why he had to hide. "The police were firing bullets. I was hiding there because police had planned to kill me," said Ramdev.

In the police crackdown, many were injured and Ramdev said that one of his woman supporters was paralysed in the brutality and her condition was still critical. "One of our woman supporters is paralysed in police brutality she is in ICU," said Ramdev.

Ramdev also rubbished the Delhi police statement regarding a terror alert at Ramlila grounds saying that it was a lie and if it were true then the government should have informed him.

8:00 pm: Hazare to fast again, flays attack on Ramdev

Gandhian activist Anna Hazare, who had gone on a hunger strike in April, Sunday said he would undertake a day's fast Wednesday to put pressure on the government to act against corruption.

'We have decided that we will organise a day's fast on June 8,' Hazare told a news conference and urged Indians across the country to follow suit.

'Wherever you may be, you may stage a fast. And pray to god to give wisdom to this government.'

Hazare, whose five-day fast in April forced the government to set up a panel to draft a Lokpal bill, also denounced the police crackdown on yoga guru Ramdev and the eviction of thousands of his supporters.

7:30 pm: Ramdev's supporters created chaos: Delhi Police

Refuting allegations that it baton charged thousands of Baba Ramdev's followers to evict them from the Ramlila Ground in a post-midnight raid, the Delhi Police Sunday said that the yoga guru's supporters were responsible for the entire chaos.

'We used tear gas after Ramdev's supporters pelted bricks, which they had stacked, and when they attacked us with iron rods, fire extinguishers and what appeared to be baseball bats. This was due to Baba Ramdev,' Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dharmendra Kumar said.

When asked how the bricks and iron rods were present inside the premises, Kumar said: 'The supporters already had them.' 'There was no lathi-charge. The whole media was there, not even one has shown the visuals of a lathi-charge. And the allegation that women were manhandled is also false. We had a huge number of women police personnel, we asked them to handle them,' he said.

7:00 pm: BJP attacks Digvijay for calling Baba Ramdev ''thug''
Madhya Pradesh BJP today attacked Digvijay Singh for calling Baba Ramdev a ''thug'' (humbug) and said the Congress leader had lost decency of words and language.

A statement issued here by BJP co-spokesperson Umesh Sharma said that the All India Congress Committee General Secretary Digvijay Singh is used to making derogatory and provoking statements which should be condemned by the society.

He described Singh''s habit of making such statements as "verbal violence" and criticised the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh saying that his statements are aimed at drawing attention and creating anger in the society.

6:15 pm: Bollywood slams crackdown on Baba Ramdev
The film industry might have a split opinion on Baba Ramdev''s cause but many Bollywood names have criticised the police swoop-in on the yoga guru''s hunger strike, saying that everyone has the right to protest.

Actress Raveena Tandon posted on Twitter, "This country gives everyone the Right to protest! remember? If murderers, terrorists are invited 2 join politics, why not a island owning baba?? (sic)"

"It is shocking to see how police and authorities have behaved with the crowds at Ramlila Maidan. It is unfair and undemocratic. SHAME," Anupam Kher wrote on the microblogging site.

6:00 pm: BJP blames PM, Sonia for police crackdown on Ramdev supporters

Dubbing the police action on "peaceful and unarmed" people at Baba Ramdev''s hunger strike as a "shameful" chapter in India''s democracy, BJP today accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi of ordering the crackdown.

The party announced it would hold protests across the country against corruption and "police brutality" against Ramdev and his followers.

"The incident that took place yesterday at midnight at the Ramlila ground is one that has blemished democracy. Those people were protesting against corruption and black money through democratic means. But Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi ordered the atrocities on these people," BJP President Nitin Gadkari said in Lucknow. Read more

5:15 pm: Ramdev broke promise, was rousing passions: Government

Facing criticism for cracking down on Baba Ramdev, the government Sunday said that it was forced to whisk away the yoga guru as he 'had gone back on his promise' of calling off his fast, and accused him of rousing passions and acting on the behest of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Soon after the forced dispersal of Ramdev and thousands of his supporters from the Delhi's Ramlila Ground after midnight Saturday, the government said that Ramdev was given an assurance on his demands against corruption and black money.

'The government told him that anything doable will be done immediately. Anything not doable cannot be done. If despite all assurances, there is government bashing, only to rouse passions, only to spread disaffection among people, then people expect the government to take action,' Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said in Chandigarh. Full story

4:30 pm: Government wanted to kill me: Ramdev

Reaching his ashram after being forcefully evicted from Delhi's Ramlila Ground in a midnight police raid, a visibly shaken Baba Ramdev Sunday accused the government of plotting against him and trying to get him killed. 'They wanted to kidnap me and kill me, or send me somewhere,' the yoga guru said at a press conference.

He termed the police action inhuman and barbaric. 'Yesterday at the Ramlila maidan, about 1 lakh people felt the force of the police. The scenario was hurtful and barbaric,' he said.

'My fast has not ended,' he said about the hunger strike against corruption which he had launched at the Ramlila Ground Saturday morning but which was halted by the late night police action. More

3: 40 pm: Intelligence of a threat to Ramdev: Delhi policeDelhi police said they took steps to end Baba Ramdeve's hunger strike because they got intelligence inputs that there was a threat to Baba Ramdev's life.
3: 35 pm: Delhi police clarify the crackdownWhen the police went on the pandal to detain Baba Ramdev, he avoided the police and instead went into the crowd. There was no lathicharge. Tear gas had to be used as the crowd was getting unruly, hinting that Ramdev's supporters launched premeditated attacks.
3: 10 pm: Naveen Patnaik, Nitish Kumar slam UPA govtThe Chief Ministers of Orissa and Bihar have come out strongly against the government action against Baba Ramdev. Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the action taken at the peaceful meeting was "shocking, draconian and undemocratic". Read more

Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar slammed UPA government for its use of ''brute force'' to evict Ramdev and his supporters describing it as a ''major blow to democracy''. "The Centre owes an explanation on the issue," he told reporters. More here

2: 55 pm: Mayawati condemns police action on Ramdev, wants SC probeCondemning police action against Baba Ramdev and his supporters "in strongest terms", Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati today requested the Supreme Court to order a probe as "justice cannot be expected from the Centre" in the issue.

Mayawati termed the crackdown at the Ram Lila Maidan as "inhuman", "undemocratic" and "condemnable". More here
2: 42 pm: Govt had good intentions: SahaiSahai: We did not go to the airport to receive Baba Ramdev, but to clarify certain issues. The understanding with Ramdev was that he would call off the hunger strike.

2: 30 pm: Ramdev went back on his word: Subodh SahaiUnion Minister Subodh Kant Sahai holds a press conference to clear the government's stand on the issue. He said all meetings with Ramdev were transparent and he had committed to end the fast by 4pm on Saturday. He adds that the govt tried its best to avoid any confrontation.

2: 00 pm: Patkar decries Ramdev's forceful removalActivist Medha Patkar, who had initially termed Baba Ramdev''s agitation against corruption as an "expensive" one, today decried the forceful removal of his supporters from their protest site as "undemocratic".

A statement by Patkar, who is part of civil society group National Alliance of People''s Movements (NAPM), said that the group condemned the "sudden and unwarranted" attack on peaceful protesters at Ramlila Maidan. More here

1: 40 pm: Sonia Gandhi responsible: RamdevRamdev: If anything happens to me, Sonia Gandhi should be held responsible.

1: 30 pm: Police bans Ramdev from entering Delhi for 15 daysThe Delhi police has banned Baba from entering Delhi for the next 15 days and justified its action saying the organisers did not restrict themselves to a yoga camp as orginally permitted but resorted to a political agitation and made provocative speeches. More here
1: 25 pm: I'm not a criminal: RamdevRamdev: Speaking about black money and corruption is not a crime.
1: 20 pm: Consent letter was forced: RamdevRamdev:  The govt was pressurizing me to end my hunger strike. I was forced to sign the consent letter. All demands, except for the black money, was met.
1: 15 pm: My movement not political: RamdevRamdev said the eviction was barbaric and despite his pleas, the police didn't spare women and children. He also added that his movement is not politically motivated as is rumoured.
1: 10 pm: Govt promised an ordinance: RamdevRamdev: Government gave false assurances of agreeing to the demands and then backtracked on its word.
1: 05 pm: Baba says his hunger strike will continueRamdev: I will continue my fight against corruption. I faced such atrocity for the first time in my life.
1: 00 pm:  Ramdev addresses media from HaridwarRamdev: Last night's incident was a black movement for me.  Innocent people, including children beaten and dragged in front of my eyes.

12: 36 pm: Sushma Swaraj hold a press conferenceAddressing the media, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said the crackdown on supporters could prove fatal to some of the injured. She tweets, " There is a lady Rajbala from Gurgaon in the ICU. She was brutally beaten on her back. Her spine is fractured. She is paralysed for life".
12: 35 pm: BJP demands apology from PM, Sonia over crackdown on RamdevThe BJP condemning the police crackdown on yoga guru Baba Ramdev's fast-unto-death protest against corruption, said the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and Congress President Sonia Gandhi should apologise to the nation.

BJP President Nitin Gandkari said the crackdown on Ramdev and his supporters was reminiscent of the emergency days, and announced that the party will hold a 24-hour stir across the nation to protest it.

"The crackdown by police came on the orders of the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi. We strongly condemn it...The Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi must apologise to the people," he told reporters in Lucknow. More here
12: 25 pm: Ramdev politicized the whole issue, says SibalUnion Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal justifying the government's stand and said Baba Ramdev politicized the whole issue. "He had promised only for yoga and the crowd would not exceed 5,000. But around 50,000 persons were present. We had accepted all his demands in written. But Ramdev did not keep up his promise and politicized the issue. He cheated all his supporters,"  he said.

"Baba turned his yoga session into a political stage. Now, it's clear that Ramdev is the another face of RSS," he added. More here
12: 10 pm: CPI comes down heavily on Government on Ramdev agitationCPI came down heavily on the UPA Government for not taking political parties and Parliament into confidence while dealing with agitations by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev against corruption and accused it of "undermining" democratic process.

Party National Secretary D Raja asked why the Government did not act against Ramdev's agitation when it was clear from "the beginning that right-wing organistaions like RSS were involved in the protest." More here
11: 50 am: Delhi police registers a  case or rioting.
Reports say the govt feared more people might join Ramdev and that any delay in taking action against him would only prompt him to make more demands.
11: 40 am: Ramdev reaches Haridwar  

11: 20 am: Advani slams the UPA govtSenior BJP leader LK Advani addresses the media and says this move by the government reminds him of the Jallianwala Bagh incident. Demanding a  JPC into all scams, he said the crackdown is a political turing point, just like the emergency. The BJP also accuses the Congress of evading the black money issue.

11: 18 am: Team Anna condemns Govt.'s crackdown on Ramdev
Former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan and former Supreme Court Judge N. Santosh Hegde, who are part of the Jan Lokpal Bill on Sunday condemned the government's crackdown on yoga guru Baba Ramdev's fast-unto-death protest against corruption at the Ramlila ground here, saying the government should resign.

"The government should resign and a caretaker government should take over. Till yesterday the government gave an impression that they were sending emissaries. It is very shocking and the action should be condemned by one and all. People who are supporting corruption are raising the old bogey of RSS and their own ministers are not giving importance," said Bhushan. More here
11: 05 am: Modi, Mulayam back RamdevSamajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh says calling Baba Ramdev a thug is unfair. He was responding to  senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh's comment that Ramdev's activities should be investigated and he's nothing short of of "thug". Meanwhile, Gujarat CM Narendra Modi says this is the beginning of the end of the UPA govt.

10: 50 am: Ramdev didn't keep his promise:  SibalUnion Minister Kapil Sibal said the crackdown at the Ramlila maidan was justified. He said Ramdev went back on his word to end the fast. Sibal said Ramdev was given permission for yoga shivir and that yogis shouldn't teach political asanas.
10: 45 am: Ramdev arrives in Dehradun
Baba Ramdev lands in Dehradun. He is being escorted to his ashram in Haridwar. Baba Ramdev was flown from Delhi by a special plane. Ramdev, who was initially taken to an undisclosed destination from the protest site, was put into an aircraft by Delhi Police from the Palam Airport this morning, officials said.


10: 20 am: BJP to go on satyagraha across the country
BJP president Nitin Gadkari says the party will go on  a satyagraha at Raj Ghat this evening at 7. He said this is an attack on democracy and that the UPA has lost all rights to rule. He also said that it was an attempt to impose another emergency in the country.
10: 00 am: Digvijay justifies police action; says Ramdev is ''fraud''
Unfazed by attack from various quarters, Congress today justified the midnight crackdown on Baba Ramdev''s fast against corruption and accused him of "inciting people" despite striking a deal with the government for ending his protest.

Terming the yoga guru as a "fraud", AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh also demanded an inquiry into the "thousands of crores of rupees" of property owned by Ramdev. More here

9: 45 am: Hegde disappointed, calls police action inhuman
Lokpal draft panelist and Karnataka Lokayukta chief Santosh Hegde tells CNN IBN he's disappointed by the way the Delhi police swooped down on Baba Ramdev and his supporters. Watch the video here

9: 30 am: Ramdev being taken to Hardwar: Pillai
Home Secretary G.K. Pillai Sunday said yoga guru Baba Ramdev was being taken to his ashram in Hardwar after police in a midnight action quelled his mass hunger strike and dispersed thousands of his followers. 'He is being taken to his ashram in Hardwar. He will be there by lunch time,' said Pillai. More here

8: 45 am: 30 injured in police crackdown to end Ramdev's protest
Some 30 people were injured in a pre-dawn police crackdown to end yogaguru Baba Ramdev's anti-corruption hunger strike at Ramlila Ground in the capital, officials in a hospital said. A medical officer of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP)hospital told IANS that some 30 mildly injured people were brought there. More here

8: 30 am: Ramdev dares government to arrest him with warrant
Baba Ramdev, whose indefinite fast was ended abruptly by Delhi Police in a mid-night swoop, today challenged the government to arrest him with a proper warrant and condemned the "excesses" on his followers.

Speaking to a TV channel from an undisclosed location, he termed the police operation at Ramlila Maidan, venue of his agitation, as unfortunate. More here

8: 15 am: Midnight police swoop on Baba Ramdev, detention ends protest With talks breaking down, police swooped down on Baba Ramdev a little past midnight and detained him after firing tear gas shells and resorting to lathicharge on his supporters to end his day-old indefinite hunger strike on black money issue. More here

Defiant Baba Ramdev vows to return to Delhi, continue campaign

Defiant Baba Ramdev vows to return to Delhi, continue campaign
Baba Ramdev was back in his saffron attire, hours after he was evicted from the Ramlila Ground in Delhi during a late night crackdown by the government. But unlike during the day when he turned emotional while addressing the media, a determined Ramdev this time minced no words, declaring that his fast against corruption will continue.
"We will return to Delhi with the same agenda, with the same zeal and vigour. First thing is that today evening, we will tell you the location, either in Delhi or near Delhi. We will assemble...We will rally all over the nation, hold fast and dharnas; we will go to each house and tell people about government's action," he said while addressing a press conference at his ashram in Haridwar.

Launching a scathing attack on the government for the police action at his camp, Ramdev said, "The government has been ruthless towards women, children, we still don't know who has been thrown where? The government tried to suppress peaceful protests. One of our workers, Rajbala, is very serious; she will probably not make it. We have got a list of over a 100 people who are injured, like Ajay Arya whose both legs are broken; he can't even be operated upon. There are thousands like them who did nothing wrong. This is a huge blemish on the government." NDTV has the report

8:30 pm: Fast against corruption hasn't ended: Ramdev
A visibly emotional Baba Ramdev on Sunday accused the central government of betraying him and trying to kill him. Baba Ramdev upon reaching his ashram in the pilgrim city of Haridwar, after being evicted from Delhi said that his fast against corruption has not ended.

Ramdev alleged that the police crackdown was a plan to kill him and that is the reason why he had to hide. "The police were firing bullets. I was hiding there because police had planned to kill me," said Ramdev.

In the police crackdown, many were injured and Ramdev said that one of his woman supporters was paralysed in the brutality and her condition was still critical. "One of our woman supporters is paralysed in police brutality she is in ICU," said Ramdev.

Ramdev also rubbished the Delhi police statement regarding a terror alert at Ramlila grounds saying that it was a lie and if it were true then the government should have informed him.

8:00 pm: Hazare to fast again, flays attack on Ramdev

Gandhian activist Anna Hazare, who had gone on a hunger strike in April, Sunday said he would undertake a day's fast Wednesday to put pressure on the government to act against corruption.

'We have decided that we will organise a day's fast on June 8,' Hazare told a news conference and urged Indians across the country to follow suit.

'Wherever you may be, you may stage a fast. And pray to god to give wisdom to this government.'

Hazare, whose five-day fast in April forced the government to set up a panel to draft a Lokpal bill, also denounced the police crackdown on yoga guru Ramdev and the eviction of thousands of his supporters.

7:30 pm: Ramdev's supporters created chaos: Delhi Police

Refuting allegations that it baton charged thousands of Baba Ramdev's followers to evict them from the Ramlila Ground in a post-midnight raid, the Delhi Police Sunday said that the yoga guru's supporters were responsible for the entire chaos.

'We used tear gas after Ramdev's supporters pelted bricks, which they had stacked, and when they attacked us with iron rods, fire extinguishers and what appeared to be baseball bats. This was due to Baba Ramdev,' Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dharmendra Kumar said.

When asked how the bricks and iron rods were present inside the premises, Kumar said: 'The supporters already had them.' 'There was no lathi-charge. The whole media was there, not even one has shown the visuals of a lathi-charge. And the allegation that women were manhandled is also false. We had a huge number of women police personnel, we asked them to handle them,' he said.

7:00 pm: BJP attacks Digvijay for calling Baba Ramdev ''thug''
Madhya Pradesh BJP today attacked Digvijay Singh for calling Baba Ramdev a ''thug'' (humbug) and said the Congress leader had lost decency of words and language.

A statement issued here by BJP co-spokesperson Umesh Sharma said that the All India Congress Committee General Secretary Digvijay Singh is used to making derogatory and provoking statements which should be condemned by the society.

He described Singh''s habit of making such statements as "verbal violence" and criticised the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh saying that his statements are aimed at drawing attention and creating anger in the society.

6:15 pm: Bollywood slams crackdown on Baba Ramdev
The film industry might have a split opinion on Baba Ramdev''s cause but many Bollywood names have criticised the police swoop-in on the yoga guru''s hunger strike, saying that everyone has the right to protest.

Actress Raveena Tandon posted on Twitter, "This country gives everyone the Right to protest! remember? If murderers, terrorists are invited 2 join politics, why not a island owning baba?? (sic)"

"It is shocking to see how police and authorities have behaved with the crowds at Ramlila Maidan. It is unfair and undemocratic. SHAME," Anupam Kher wrote on the microblogging site.

6:00 pm: BJP blames PM, Sonia for police crackdown on Ramdev supporters

Dubbing the police action on "peaceful and unarmed" people at Baba Ramdev''s hunger strike as a "shameful" chapter in India''s democracy, BJP today accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi of ordering the crackdown.

The party announced it would hold protests across the country against corruption and "police brutality" against Ramdev and his followers.

"The incident that took place yesterday at midnight at the Ramlila ground is one that has blemished democracy. Those people were protesting against corruption and black money through democratic means. But Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi ordered the atrocities on these people," BJP President Nitin Gadkari said in Lucknow. Read more

5:15 pm: Ramdev broke promise, was rousing passions: Government

Facing criticism for cracking down on Baba Ramdev, the government Sunday said that it was forced to whisk away the yoga guru as he 'had gone back on his promise' of calling off his fast, and accused him of rousing passions and acting on the behest of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Soon after the forced dispersal of Ramdev and thousands of his supporters from the Delhi's Ramlila Ground after midnight Saturday, the government said that Ramdev was given an assurance on his demands against corruption and black money.

'The government told him that anything doable will be done immediately. Anything not doable cannot be done. If despite all assurances, there is government bashing, only to rouse passions, only to spread disaffection among people, then people expect the government to take action,' Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said in Chandigarh. Full story

4:30 pm: Government wanted to kill me: Ramdev

Reaching his ashram after being forcefully evicted from Delhi's Ramlila Ground in a midnight police raid, a visibly shaken Baba Ramdev Sunday accused the government of plotting against him and trying to get him killed. 'They wanted to kidnap me and kill me, or send me somewhere,' the yoga guru said at a press conference.

He termed the police action inhuman and barbaric. 'Yesterday at the Ramlila maidan, about 1 lakh people felt the force of the police. The scenario was hurtful and barbaric,' he said.

'My fast has not ended,' he said about the hunger strike against corruption which he had launched at the Ramlila Ground Saturday morning but which was halted by the late night police action. More

3: 40 pm: Intelligence of a threat to Ramdev: Delhi policeDelhi police said they took steps to end Baba Ramdeve's hunger strike because they got intelligence inputs that there was a threat to Baba Ramdev's life.
3: 35 pm: Delhi police clarify the crackdownWhen the police went on the pandal to detain Baba Ramdev, he avoided the police and instead went into the crowd. There was no lathicharge. Tear gas had to be used as the crowd was getting unruly, hinting that Ramdev's supporters launched premeditated attacks.
3: 10 pm: Naveen Patnaik, Nitish Kumar slam UPA govtThe Chief Ministers of Orissa and Bihar have come out strongly against the government action against Baba Ramdev. Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the action taken at the peaceful meeting was "shocking, draconian and undemocratic". Read more

Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar slammed UPA government for its use of ''brute force'' to evict Ramdev and his supporters describing it as a ''major blow to democracy''. "The Centre owes an explanation on the issue," he told reporters. More here

2: 55 pm: Mayawati condemns police action on Ramdev, wants SC probeCondemning police action against Baba Ramdev and his supporters "in strongest terms", Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati today requested the Supreme Court to order a probe as "justice cannot be expected from the Centre" in the issue.

Mayawati termed the crackdown at the Ram Lila Maidan as "inhuman", "undemocratic" and "condemnable". More here
2: 42 pm: Govt had good intentions: SahaiSahai: We did not go to the airport to receive Baba Ramdev, but to clarify certain issues. The understanding with Ramdev was that he would call off the hunger strike.

2: 30 pm: Ramdev went back on his word: Subodh SahaiUnion Minister Subodh Kant Sahai holds a press conference to clear the government's stand on the issue. He said all meetings with Ramdev were transparent and he had committed to end the fast by 4pm on Saturday. He adds that the govt tried its best to avoid any confrontation.

2: 00 pm: Patkar decries Ramdev's forceful removalActivist Medha Patkar, who had initially termed Baba Ramdev''s agitation against corruption as an "expensive" one, today decried the forceful removal of his supporters from their protest site as "undemocratic".

A statement by Patkar, who is part of civil society group National Alliance of People''s Movements (NAPM), said that the group condemned the "sudden and unwarranted" attack on peaceful protesters at Ramlila Maidan. More here

1: 40 pm: Sonia Gandhi responsible: RamdevRamdev: If anything happens to me, Sonia Gandhi should be held responsible.

1: 30 pm: Police bans Ramdev from entering Delhi for 15 daysThe Delhi police has banned Baba from entering Delhi for the next 15 days and justified its action saying the organisers did not restrict themselves to a yoga camp as orginally permitted but resorted to a political agitation and made provocative speeches. More here
1: 25 pm: I'm not a criminal: RamdevRamdev: Speaking about black money and corruption is not a crime.
1: 20 pm: Consent letter was forced: RamdevRamdev:  The govt was pressurizing me to end my hunger strike. I was forced to sign the consent letter. All demands, except for the black money, was met.
1: 15 pm: My movement not political: RamdevRamdev said the eviction was barbaric and despite his pleas, the police didn't spare women and children. He also added that his movement is not politically motivated as is rumoured.
1: 10 pm: Govt promised an ordinance: RamdevRamdev: Government gave false assurances of agreeing to the demands and then backtracked on its word.
1: 05 pm: Baba says his hunger strike will continueRamdev: I will continue my fight against corruption. I faced such atrocity for the first time in my life.
1: 00 pm:  Ramdev addresses media from HaridwarRamdev: Last night's incident was a black movement for me.  Innocent people, including children beaten and dragged in front of my eyes.

12: 36 pm: Sushma Swaraj hold a press conferenceAddressing the media, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said the crackdown on supporters could prove fatal to some of the injured. She tweets, " There is a lady Rajbala from Gurgaon in the ICU. She was brutally beaten on her back. Her spine is fractured. She is paralysed for life".
12: 35 pm: BJP demands apology from PM, Sonia over crackdown on RamdevThe BJP condemning the police crackdown on yoga guru Baba Ramdev's fast-unto-death protest against corruption, said the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and Congress President Sonia Gandhi should apologise to the nation.

BJP President Nitin Gandkari said the crackdown on Ramdev and his supporters was reminiscent of the emergency days, and announced that the party will hold a 24-hour stir across the nation to protest it.

"The crackdown by police came on the orders of the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi. We strongly condemn it...The Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi must apologise to the people," he told reporters in Lucknow. More here
12: 25 pm: Ramdev politicized the whole issue, says SibalUnion Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal justifying the government's stand and said Baba Ramdev politicized the whole issue. "He had promised only for yoga and the crowd would not exceed 5,000. But around 50,000 persons were present. We had accepted all his demands in written. But Ramdev did not keep up his promise and politicized the issue. He cheated all his supporters,"  he said.

"Baba turned his yoga session into a political stage. Now, it's clear that Ramdev is the another face of RSS," he added. More here
12: 10 pm: CPI comes down heavily on Government on Ramdev agitationCPI came down heavily on the UPA Government for not taking political parties and Parliament into confidence while dealing with agitations by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev against corruption and accused it of "undermining" democratic process.

Party National Secretary D Raja asked why the Government did not act against Ramdev's agitation when it was clear from "the beginning that right-wing organistaions like RSS were involved in the protest." More here
11: 50 am: Delhi police registers a  case or rioting.
Reports say the govt feared more people might join Ramdev and that any delay in taking action against him would only prompt him to make more demands.
11: 40 am: Ramdev reaches Haridwar  

11: 20 am: Advani slams the UPA govtSenior BJP leader LK Advani addresses the media and says this move by the government reminds him of the Jallianwala Bagh incident. Demanding a  JPC into all scams, he said the crackdown is a political turing point, just like the emergency. The BJP also accuses the Congress of evading the black money issue.

11: 18 am: Team Anna condemns Govt.'s crackdown on Ramdev
Former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan and former Supreme Court Judge N. Santosh Hegde, who are part of the Jan Lokpal Bill on Sunday condemned the government's crackdown on yoga guru Baba Ramdev's fast-unto-death protest against corruption at the Ramlila ground here, saying the government should resign.

"The government should resign and a caretaker government should take over. Till yesterday the government gave an impression that they were sending emissaries. It is very shocking and the action should be condemned by one and all. People who are supporting corruption are raising the old bogey of RSS and their own ministers are not giving importance," said Bhushan. More here
11: 05 am: Modi, Mulayam back RamdevSamajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh says calling Baba Ramdev a thug is unfair. He was responding to  senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh's comment that Ramdev's activities should be investigated and he's nothing short of of "thug". Meanwhile, Gujarat CM Narendra Modi says this is the beginning of the end of the UPA govt.

10: 50 am: Ramdev didn't keep his promise:  SibalUnion Minister Kapil Sibal said the crackdown at the Ramlila maidan was justified. He said Ramdev went back on his word to end the fast. Sibal said Ramdev was given permission for yoga shivir and that yogis shouldn't teach political asanas.
10: 45 am: Ramdev arrives in Dehradun
Baba Ramdev lands in Dehradun. He is being escorted to his ashram in Haridwar. Baba Ramdev was flown from Delhi by a special plane. Ramdev, who was initially taken to an undisclosed destination from the protest site, was put into an aircraft by Delhi Police from the Palam Airport this morning, officials said.


10: 20 am: BJP to go on satyagraha across the country
BJP president Nitin Gadkari says the party will go on  a satyagraha at Raj Ghat this evening at 7. He said this is an attack on democracy and that the UPA has lost all rights to rule. He also said that it was an attempt to impose another emergency in the country.
10: 00 am: Digvijay justifies police action; says Ramdev is ''fraud''
Unfazed by attack from various quarters, Congress today justified the midnight crackdown on Baba Ramdev''s fast against corruption and accused him of "inciting people" despite striking a deal with the government for ending his protest.

Terming the yoga guru as a "fraud", AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh also demanded an inquiry into the "thousands of crores of rupees" of property owned by Ramdev. More here

9: 45 am: Hegde disappointed, calls police action inhuman
Lokpal draft panelist and Karnataka Lokayukta chief Santosh Hegde tells CNN IBN he's disappointed by the way the Delhi police swooped down on Baba Ramdev and his supporters. Watch the video here

9: 30 am: Ramdev being taken to Hardwar: Pillai
Home Secretary G.K. Pillai Sunday said yoga guru Baba Ramdev was being taken to his ashram in Hardwar after police in a midnight action quelled his mass hunger strike and dispersed thousands of his followers. 'He is being taken to his ashram in Hardwar. He will be there by lunch time,' said Pillai. More here

8: 45 am: 30 injured in police crackdown to end Ramdev's protest
Some 30 people were injured in a pre-dawn police crackdown to end yogaguru Baba Ramdev's anti-corruption hunger strike at Ramlila Ground in the capital, officials in a hospital said. A medical officer of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP)hospital told IANS that some 30 mildly injured people were brought there. More here

8: 30 am: Ramdev dares government to arrest him with warrant
Baba Ramdev, whose indefinite fast was ended abruptly by Delhi Police in a mid-night swoop, today challenged the government to arrest him with a proper warrant and condemned the "excesses" on his followers.

Speaking to a TV channel from an undisclosed location, he termed the police operation at Ramlila Maidan, venue of his agitation, as unfortunate. More here

8: 15 am: Midnight police swoop on Baba Ramdev, detention ends protest With talks breaking down, police swooped down on Baba Ramdev a little past midnight and detained him after firing tear gas shells and resorting to lathicharge on his supporters to end his day-old indefinite hunger strike on black money issue. More here

Women, children dragged and beaten, says Baba Ramdev after eviction from Delhi

Baba Ramdev shunned his trademark saffron and arrived at his Patanjali ashram in Hardwar dressed in white on Sunday afternoon. He looked wan and weary as he recounted events leading up to his eviction from Delhi. He also made clear that his hunger-strike was still on.
The yoga icon was evicted from Delhi after midnight police action and scenes of violence at the site of his hunger strike. The Baba spent last night in the protection of the Delhi Police and was flown out from the Palam airport this morning. He has been served an externment order and cannot enter Delhi, though he is free to travel anywhere else in the country.

Baba Ramdev described last night's happening at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan as the "darkest night of my life." He said he had not seen such atrocities before. "The police force 5000-10,000 in number, did not even spare the smallest children. Women and children were dragged and beaten up." He broke down as he described how he wept and told "cops to stop misbehaving with women supporters", but to no avail, he said. Baba Ramdev, who initially escaped the police dressed as a woman, said he was not dressed in a white salwar-kurta because he wanted to and described how he spent hours hidden among women.

The government, he said, had betrayed him. "They said they would declare black money as national assets, find out where it was stashed and would bring it back." Top ministers negotiating with him on behalf of the government he said, had asked him to abandon his fast first saying he would get a written assurance that his demands would be met. But when that letter came, he said, it made no mention of his primary demand.     

He singled out senior minister Kapil Sibal as "the most scheming man ever."

Very late last night, the externment of the tremendously popular leader was preceded by the Delhi police using a lathi charge and tear gas shells on his supporters at the Ramlila Maidan, which had served all day as a sort of Capital city for the yoga icon and his mass movement against the government. (Watch: Late night violence at protest)

Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed at the Ramlila Grounds to prevent people from gathering there.

The government has justified the late night eviction of the Baba saying he had violated permission granted for a yoga gathering. Senior minister Kapil Sibal said Baba Ramdev had given permission for a yoga camp for 5000 people but when over 50,000 people descended on the capital's Ramlila ground, the government "couldn't allow law and order to be disrupted." (Read: How the Ramdev crisis developed)

Baba Ramdev's stage, Mr Sibal said, had become one for "political asanas" and "not yoga asanas." (Read: Stick to yoga not political asanas, says Govt on Ramdev)

Mr Pillai said that the government did not fear any backlash, as no action had been taken against Baba Ramdev save the externment.

But the police action at the Ramlila Maidan has been compared to the Emergency by other civil society activists like Shanti Bushan. Others like Swami Agnivesh said that because the Baba's supporters had been largely peaceful, the police has violated basic democratic rights. "The government should resign," said Mr Bhushan.

On the other side of the argument, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has used strong words calling Baba Ramdev "a thug who is misleading the nation...We can't allow someone like Ramdev to run riot in Delhi. He had permission only to run a yoga camp. He was trying to incite people." Mr Singh has spoken frequently this week against the Baba and his attempts to force the government to launch a mission to recover crores of black money from foreign bank accounts. (Read: 'Thug' Ramdev misleading the nation, says Digvijaya Singh)

Late-night drama at Ramlila Grounds
At 1 am, close to 600 policemen arrived at Ramlila Maidan to demand that the crowd of 60,000 supporters disperse. Their argument was that the gathering had been granted permission only for a yoga camp and not as a mass demonstration. (Watch: Thousands gather at Ramlila Maidan)

A group of policemen trooped onto the stage, reportedly after some people threw stones at them. The Baba asked them to go away. He then leapt from his stage, his saffron robes fanning out behind him, into the crowd of supporters. Seated on a follower's shoulders, the Baba then delivered a lengthy speech, waving his fist in the air. Finally, the police managed to get to him. (Watch: Eyewitness account) | (Read: Ramdev wants peaceful agitation against police action)

At 2 am, teargas shells were launched upon the thousands of people who were present, allegedly in an attempt to force the crowds to leave the grounds. A small fire broke out on the stage that had been used by the Baba but fortunately, it did not spread.

At 5.30 am, the Baba was evicted from Delhi and moved to his ashram in Haridwar.

Government sources say that the Baba was detained for just a few minutes.

The Baba and the government had hit the collision course at around 9 pm with both sides accusing each other of betrayal. Baba Ramdev said the government had falsely assured him that it would meet his charter of demands that include recovering black money held abroad by Indians and declaring it a national asset. The government in turn said that the Baba had in writing promised even before he began his fast that it would end early last evening. The implication was that unknown to his supporters, the government and the yoga icon had struck a secret deal. Stung, the Baba accused the government of lying and said the gloves were coming off.

Another letter from the government was then sent to him assuring him that the government was serious about following up on his demands. The letter appealed again for the Baba to end his hunger strike.

Baba Ramdev has been the government's top priority this week - top ministers spent hours meeting with him to persuade him that his "satyagraha against corruption" should not be launched because the government was willing to work with him to address his concerns.

Several rounds of talks-including those on Friday- were followed by reports that a compromise had been reached. But late on Friday evening, after meeting with senior ministers Kapil Sibal and Subodh Kant Sahay at the Claridges Hotel in Delhi, the Baba returned to Ramlila Maidan and told a crowd of thousands that his fast would begin as planned on Saturday. He said his movement would be non- violent and that he would fast "till the end."

Women, children dragged and beaten, says Baba Ramdev after eviction from Delhi

Baba Ramdev shunned his trademark saffron and arrived at his Patanjali ashram in Hardwar dressed in white on Sunday afternoon. He looked wan and weary as he recounted events leading up to his eviction from Delhi. He also made clear that his hunger-strike was still on.
The yoga icon was evicted from Delhi after midnight police action and scenes of violence at the site of his hunger strike. The Baba spent last night in the protection of the Delhi Police and was flown out from the Palam airport this morning. He has been served an externment order and cannot enter Delhi, though he is free to travel anywhere else in the country.

Baba Ramdev described last night's happening at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan as the "darkest night of my life." He said he had not seen such atrocities before. "The police force 5000-10,000 in number, did not even spare the smallest children. Women and children were dragged and beaten up." He broke down as he described how he wept and told "cops to stop misbehaving with women supporters", but to no avail, he said. Baba Ramdev, who initially escaped the police dressed as a woman, said he was not dressed in a white salwar-kurta because he wanted to and described how he spent hours hidden among women.

The government, he said, had betrayed him. "They said they would declare black money as national assets, find out where it was stashed and would bring it back." Top ministers negotiating with him on behalf of the government he said, had asked him to abandon his fast first saying he would get a written assurance that his demands would be met. But when that letter came, he said, it made no mention of his primary demand.     

He singled out senior minister Kapil Sibal as "the most scheming man ever."

Very late last night, the externment of the tremendously popular leader was preceded by the Delhi police using a lathi charge and tear gas shells on his supporters at the Ramlila Maidan, which had served all day as a sort of Capital city for the yoga icon and his mass movement against the government. (Watch: Late night violence at protest)

Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed at the Ramlila Grounds to prevent people from gathering there.

The government has justified the late night eviction of the Baba saying he had violated permission granted for a yoga gathering. Senior minister Kapil Sibal said Baba Ramdev had given permission for a yoga camp for 5000 people but when over 50,000 people descended on the capital's Ramlila ground, the government "couldn't allow law and order to be disrupted." (Read: How the Ramdev crisis developed)

Baba Ramdev's stage, Mr Sibal said, had become one for "political asanas" and "not yoga asanas." (Read: Stick to yoga not political asanas, says Govt on Ramdev)

Mr Pillai said that the government did not fear any backlash, as no action had been taken against Baba Ramdev save the externment.

But the police action at the Ramlila Maidan has been compared to the Emergency by other civil society activists like Shanti Bushan. Others like Swami Agnivesh said that because the Baba's supporters had been largely peaceful, the police has violated basic democratic rights. "The government should resign," said Mr Bhushan.

On the other side of the argument, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has used strong words calling Baba Ramdev "a thug who is misleading the nation...We can't allow someone like Ramdev to run riot in Delhi. He had permission only to run a yoga camp. He was trying to incite people." Mr Singh has spoken frequently this week against the Baba and his attempts to force the government to launch a mission to recover crores of black money from foreign bank accounts. (Read: 'Thug' Ramdev misleading the nation, says Digvijaya Singh)

Late-night drama at Ramlila Grounds
At 1 am, close to 600 policemen arrived at Ramlila Maidan to demand that the crowd of 60,000 supporters disperse. Their argument was that the gathering had been granted permission only for a yoga camp and not as a mass demonstration. (Watch: Thousands gather at Ramlila Maidan)

A group of policemen trooped onto the stage, reportedly after some people threw stones at them. The Baba asked them to go away. He then leapt from his stage, his saffron robes fanning out behind him, into the crowd of supporters. Seated on a follower's shoulders, the Baba then delivered a lengthy speech, waving his fist in the air. Finally, the police managed to get to him. (Watch: Eyewitness account) | (Read: Ramdev wants peaceful agitation against police action)

At 2 am, teargas shells were launched upon the thousands of people who were present, allegedly in an attempt to force the crowds to leave the grounds. A small fire broke out on the stage that had been used by the Baba but fortunately, it did not spread.

At 5.30 am, the Baba was evicted from Delhi and moved to his ashram in Haridwar.

Government sources say that the Baba was detained for just a few minutes.

The Baba and the government had hit the collision course at around 9 pm with both sides accusing each other of betrayal. Baba Ramdev said the government had falsely assured him that it would meet his charter of demands that include recovering black money held abroad by Indians and declaring it a national asset. The government in turn said that the Baba had in writing promised even before he began his fast that it would end early last evening. The implication was that unknown to his supporters, the government and the yoga icon had struck a secret deal. Stung, the Baba accused the government of lying and said the gloves were coming off.

Another letter from the government was then sent to him assuring him that the government was serious about following up on his demands. The letter appealed again for the Baba to end his hunger strike.

Baba Ramdev has been the government's top priority this week - top ministers spent hours meeting with him to persuade him that his "satyagraha against corruption" should not be launched because the government was willing to work with him to address his concerns.

Several rounds of talks-including those on Friday- were followed by reports that a compromise had been reached. But late on Friday evening, after meeting with senior ministers Kapil Sibal and Subodh Kant Sahay at the Claridges Hotel in Delhi, the Baba returned to Ramlila Maidan and told a crowd of thousands that his fast would begin as planned on Saturday. He said his movement would be non- violent and that he would fast "till the end."

Cong accuses Ramdev, BJP of trying to destabilise govt

Putting up a brave front amid Opposition's criticism of the midnight crackdown at Ramlila Maidan, Congress on Monday launched a no-holds-barred attack on Baba Ramdev and the BJP accusing them of trying to destabilise the government at the Centre. At a time when there is talk about growing disconnect
between the party and the government, the AICC also firmly backed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with party general secretary Janaradan Dwivedi hailing him as the biggest Sanyasi (saint) in contemporary politics. Making light of Ramdev and his fast, Dwivedi said, "One who calls himself a saint or monk should ask himself how many saints of the country are behind him. This is humilation to the real saints of the country."
"A Satyagrahi does not run away stealthily wearing women'dresses. Satyagrahi is always ready to sacrifice his life. Such a person is being compared to Mahatma Gandhi and Vivekananda. Gandhiji never said he feared for his life from the state," Dwivedi said taking a dig at Ramdev.
Launching a blistering attack on the BJP, which is seeking to make a big issue out of the Ramdev incident, Dwivedi ridiculed the fast of BJP leaders at the Rajghat today as also likening the police action at Ramlila ground to Jalianwala Bagh massacre.
"Some people are sitting on fast at Rajghat. These are those people, whose thought led to the creation of Rajghat Samaadhi before time. Gandhiji wanted to live for 125 years. But Rajghat came into existence much before," Dwivedi said.
Accusing BJP of trying to destabilise the Congress-led government at the Centre, he said, "After tolerating UPA-I and two years of UPA-II, they (BJP) are very uneasy about how to spend three more years (of UPA rule). Therefore, they are trying to spread chaos and anarchy any whatever manner they can and find a way out for themselves."
He termed Sonia Gandhi's refusal to accept Prime Ministership as "no child's play" and said, "There is no bigger Sanyasi in contemporary politics than the Prime Minister. Nobody can raise a finger at Manmohan Singh."
Dwivedi's statements, sharply critical of the BJP, RSS and Ramdev, came a day after Congress President Sonia Gandhi deliberated deeply over the strategy ahead after the police action against the yoga guru and his supporters.
The AICC general secretary, at the same time, steered clear of questions on whether the party endorsed the police action noting that the government and the party have different spheres of work.
In the backdrop of reports that Gandhi was critical of the midnight police action, his briefing projected that the government and the party are on the same page on the recent developments including Ramdev's fast.
"So far as policies and social issues are concerned, party takes a decision. So far as legal and official action and decision is concerned, they are taken by the government," Dwivedi said.
"Do you expect me to answer that?" was his terse response when asked whether there was any disconnect between the party and the government on the issue.
Asked if Ramdev was an RSS man, why four ministers of the Centre went to receive him at the airport, the senior Congress leader acknowledged "that very generosity was misused...the basic nature of the government is liberal."
He declared that Congress would fight tooth and nail the forces of anarchy and destabilisation.
Taking potshots at BJP over the fast, he said, "What kind of fast is this when the Leader of the Opposition is dancing along with her friends at Gandhi's Samadhi.
What is it they are celebrating. Is the celebration for putting forward Anna Hazare on the one hand and Swami on the other as their mask?"

Cong accuses Ramdev, BJP of trying to destabilise govt

Putting up a brave front amid Opposition's criticism of the midnight crackdown at Ramlila Maidan, Congress on Monday launched a no-holds-barred attack on Baba Ramdev and the BJP accusing them of trying to destabilise the government at the Centre. At a time when there is talk about growing disconnect
between the party and the government, the AICC also firmly backed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with party general secretary Janaradan Dwivedi hailing him as the biggest Sanyasi (saint) in contemporary politics. Making light of Ramdev and his fast, Dwivedi said, "One who calls himself a saint or monk should ask himself how many saints of the country are behind him. This is humilation to the real saints of the country."
"A Satyagrahi does not run away stealthily wearing women'dresses. Satyagrahi is always ready to sacrifice his life. Such a person is being compared to Mahatma Gandhi and Vivekananda. Gandhiji never said he feared for his life from the state," Dwivedi said taking a dig at Ramdev.
Launching a blistering attack on the BJP, which is seeking to make a big issue out of the Ramdev incident, Dwivedi ridiculed the fast of BJP leaders at the Rajghat today as also likening the police action at Ramlila ground to Jalianwala Bagh massacre.
"Some people are sitting on fast at Rajghat. These are those people, whose thought led to the creation of Rajghat Samaadhi before time. Gandhiji wanted to live for 125 years. But Rajghat came into existence much before," Dwivedi said.
Accusing BJP of trying to destabilise the Congress-led government at the Centre, he said, "After tolerating UPA-I and two years of UPA-II, they (BJP) are very uneasy about how to spend three more years (of UPA rule). Therefore, they are trying to spread chaos and anarchy any whatever manner they can and find a way out for themselves."
He termed Sonia Gandhi's refusal to accept Prime Ministership as "no child's play" and said, "There is no bigger Sanyasi in contemporary politics than the Prime Minister. Nobody can raise a finger at Manmohan Singh."
Dwivedi's statements, sharply critical of the BJP, RSS and Ramdev, came a day after Congress President Sonia Gandhi deliberated deeply over the strategy ahead after the police action against the yoga guru and his supporters.
The AICC general secretary, at the same time, steered clear of questions on whether the party endorsed the police action noting that the government and the party have different spheres of work.
In the backdrop of reports that Gandhi was critical of the midnight police action, his briefing projected that the government and the party are on the same page on the recent developments including Ramdev's fast.
"So far as policies and social issues are concerned, party takes a decision. So far as legal and official action and decision is concerned, they are taken by the government," Dwivedi said.
"Do you expect me to answer that?" was his terse response when asked whether there was any disconnect between the party and the government on the issue.
Asked if Ramdev was an RSS man, why four ministers of the Centre went to receive him at the airport, the senior Congress leader acknowledged "that very generosity was misused...the basic nature of the government is liberal."
He declared that Congress would fight tooth and nail the forces of anarchy and destabilisation.
Taking potshots at BJP over the fast, he said, "What kind of fast is this when the Leader of the Opposition is dancing along with her friends at Gandhi's Samadhi.
What is it they are celebrating. Is the celebration for putting forward Anna Hazare on the one hand and Swami on the other as their mask?"

Police action salvaged Baba Ramdev's credibility

The Hazare team came out in open support for Baba Ramdev on Sunday, putting their differences aside.

Speaking in Delhi, Hazare accused the government of throttling democracy, and said civil society would launch protests throughout the country to "teach government a lesson" .

"There might have been some faults with Baba Ramdev's agitation but at midnight , beating up people - women, children and elderly - is a blot on democracy,'' Hazare said. He announced that he would sit on a day-long fast at Jantar Mantar on June 8.

Earlier, the Hazare and Ramdev camps appeared to have drifted away for a number of reasons stretching from genuine differences of opinion on issues to the presence of RSS-leaning figures in the Ramdev camp to the desire to take control of the antigraft campaign.

In fact, government's moves to indulge Ramdev capped by the red carpet rolled out for him on Thursday when four Cabinet ministers turned up at the airport to receive him had led to apprehension that the yoga guru was being promoted as a counterweight to Hazare campaign.

The newly-forged unity among civil society means that the government will now have to contend with a stronger opposition on its contentious proposal to keep the PM and higher judiciary outside the jurisdiction of the proposed Lokpal bill. There is a possibility that Baba, so far ambivalent on whether PM should be within the purview of Lokpal, may now support the Hazare group. Ironically, the police operation has salvaged Ramdev's credibility which was under scrutiny after government claimed that he had already cut a deal before launching on a fast.

Keeping civil society engaged is helpful for the government to argue that it has been sensitive to the anti-corruption sentiments.

Its hopes of roping in other components of the political class to form a bloc against civil society are also unlikely to materialize with major political parties - BJP , Left, Samajwadi Party, BSP and JD(U) - all condemning the police action as reminiscent of repression during the Emergency of 1975. The sole exception was Lalu Prasad: hardly the poster boy for integrity in public life.

The police operation was cleared by government leaders at5 pm on Saturday following the recognition that Baba was not going to call off his protest soon. It was executed efficiently, with Delhi Police managing to clear the camp site of protesters with maximum restraint. There was no lathi charge, while a few protesters suffered serious injuries and had to be taken to hospital.

Ramdev was flown to Dehradun in a BSF plane which had been kept on standby.

But the footage of firing of teargas shells and panicstricken women and elderly running for cover relentlessly playing out on TV screens pointed to the risk of government having to pay a political cost. Being the incumbent and handicapped by scams on its watch, it was already the principal target of the antigraft campaign. Any resentment over the midnight raid on Baba's camp will add to the disadvantage. The risk is real considering that details of the 2G and CWG scam are still pouring out.

Police action salvaged Baba Ramdev's credibility

The Hazare team came out in open support for Baba Ramdev on Sunday, putting their differences aside.

Speaking in Delhi, Hazare accused the government of throttling democracy, and said civil society would launch protests throughout the country to "teach government a lesson" .

"There might have been some faults with Baba Ramdev's agitation but at midnight , beating up people - women, children and elderly - is a blot on democracy,'' Hazare said. He announced that he would sit on a day-long fast at Jantar Mantar on June 8.

Earlier, the Hazare and Ramdev camps appeared to have drifted away for a number of reasons stretching from genuine differences of opinion on issues to the presence of RSS-leaning figures in the Ramdev camp to the desire to take control of the antigraft campaign.

In fact, government's moves to indulge Ramdev capped by the red carpet rolled out for him on Thursday when four Cabinet ministers turned up at the airport to receive him had led to apprehension that the yoga guru was being promoted as a counterweight to Hazare campaign.

The newly-forged unity among civil society means that the government will now have to contend with a stronger opposition on its contentious proposal to keep the PM and higher judiciary outside the jurisdiction of the proposed Lokpal bill. There is a possibility that Baba, so far ambivalent on whether PM should be within the purview of Lokpal, may now support the Hazare group. Ironically, the police operation has salvaged Ramdev's credibility which was under scrutiny after government claimed that he had already cut a deal before launching on a fast.

Keeping civil society engaged is helpful for the government to argue that it has been sensitive to the anti-corruption sentiments.

Its hopes of roping in other components of the political class to form a bloc against civil society are also unlikely to materialize with major political parties - BJP , Left, Samajwadi Party, BSP and JD(U) - all condemning the police action as reminiscent of repression during the Emergency of 1975. The sole exception was Lalu Prasad: hardly the poster boy for integrity in public life.

The police operation was cleared by government leaders at5 pm on Saturday following the recognition that Baba was not going to call off his protest soon. It was executed efficiently, with Delhi Police managing to clear the camp site of protesters with maximum restraint. There was no lathi charge, while a few protesters suffered serious injuries and had to be taken to hospital.

Ramdev was flown to Dehradun in a BSF plane which had been kept on standby.

But the footage of firing of teargas shells and panicstricken women and elderly running for cover relentlessly playing out on TV screens pointed to the risk of government having to pay a political cost. Being the incumbent and handicapped by scams on its watch, it was already the principal target of the antigraft campaign. Any resentment over the midnight raid on Baba's camp will add to the disadvantage. The risk is real considering that details of the 2G and CWG scam are still pouring out.

Baba Ramdev resumes satyagraha against corruption

Undeterred by his forceful eviction from New Delhi, Baba Ramdev resumed his agitation at his ashram here, saying the 'satyagraha' will continue till his demands on curbing corruption and black money are met by the Centre.

Baba Ramdev sat on 'satygraha' along with his supporters and disciples at 'yagyashala' of his Patanjali Yogpeeth late last night, yogpeeth sources said today.

The yoga guru, who was bundled out of the national capital after police crackdown on his followers, tried to resume his satyagrah in Noida yesterday but was not allowed to enter Uttar Pradesh.

He was stopped on the border of Muzaffarnagar district at Bhuraheri police check post where the administrative officials asked him to return to Uttarakhand.

Later, Baba returned to Patanjali Yogpeeth last night and began his fast.

Baba told his followers that he will continue his satyagrah till his demands on curbing corruption and black money are met by the centre.

Ramdev had yesterday said, "No one should violate law and so I am not going to Delhi. I was not allowed to reach Noida in UP to continue the protest. Now it will happen here".

He had said that the government can stop him from entering Delhi for not more than 15 to 30 days and he will come again to the national capital.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had last evening met Baba Ramdev in Yogpeeth and assured him full support and security if he wanted to continue his fast.

Baba Ramdev resumes satyagraha against corruption

Undeterred by his forceful eviction from New Delhi, Baba Ramdev resumed his agitation at his ashram here, saying the 'satyagraha' will continue till his demands on curbing corruption and black money are met by the Centre.

Baba Ramdev sat on 'satygraha' along with his supporters and disciples at 'yagyashala' of his Patanjali Yogpeeth late last night, yogpeeth sources said today.

The yoga guru, who was bundled out of the national capital after police crackdown on his followers, tried to resume his satyagrah in Noida yesterday but was not allowed to enter Uttar Pradesh.

He was stopped on the border of Muzaffarnagar district at Bhuraheri police check post where the administrative officials asked him to return to Uttarakhand.

Later, Baba returned to Patanjali Yogpeeth last night and began his fast.

Baba told his followers that he will continue his satyagrah till his demands on curbing corruption and black money are met by the centre.

Ramdev had yesterday said, "No one should violate law and so I am not going to Delhi. I was not allowed to reach Noida in UP to continue the protest. Now it will happen here".

He had said that the government can stop him from entering Delhi for not more than 15 to 30 days and he will come again to the national capital.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had last evening met Baba Ramdev in Yogpeeth and assured him full support and security if he wanted to continue his fast.

SC issues notice to Centre on Ramdev's eviction

SC issues notice to govt on forceful eviction of Ramdev

See photo

Taking suo motu cognisance of forceful eviction of yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his followers from the Ramlila grounds here, the Supreme Court on Monday sought the Centre's response on the incident.

A vacation bench of justices B S Chauhan and Swatenter Kumar issued notices to the Union home secretary, chief secretary of Delhi, Delhi administration, and Delhi police commissioner asking them to respond within two weeks.

The court asked them to reply as to what were the circumstances under which the people had to be dispersed at midnight by the use of force.

The court posted the matter for hearing in the second week of July.

However, the court declined to entertain a petition filed by advocate Ajay Aggarwal on the issue.

The bench expressed its displeasure that before the matter came up for hearing before it, the entire contents of the petition were leaked to the media.

Police had cracked down on Baba Ramdev and thousands of his supporters at Ramlila Maidan on Saturday night, forcibly ending their hunger strike on corruption and black money issues.

SC issues notice to Centre on Ramdev's eviction

SC issues notice to govt on forceful eviction of Ramdev

See photo

Taking suo motu cognisance of forceful eviction of yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his followers from the Ramlila grounds here, the Supreme Court on Monday sought the Centre's response on the incident.

A vacation bench of justices B S Chauhan and Swatenter Kumar issued notices to the Union home secretary, chief secretary of Delhi, Delhi administration, and Delhi police commissioner asking them to respond within two weeks.

The court asked them to reply as to what were the circumstances under which the people had to be dispersed at midnight by the use of force.

The court posted the matter for hearing in the second week of July.

However, the court declined to entertain a petition filed by advocate Ajay Aggarwal on the issue.

The bench expressed its displeasure that before the matter came up for hearing before it, the entire contents of the petition were leaked to the media.

Police had cracked down on Baba Ramdev and thousands of his supporters at Ramlila Maidan on Saturday night, forcibly ending their hunger strike on corruption and black money issues.