On Sunday morning, two of the most popular names of anti-corruption struggles came together in New Delhi. But, by the evening, the the bonhomie had disappeared and their partnership was split wide open.
High drama followed at Jantar Mantar during the one-day joint fast of Ramdev and Anna Hazare. What appeared as a cohesive exercise in the beginning eventually fell apart, as differences based on political ambitions erupted between the Hazare camp and Ramdev.
In fact, it was Ramdev who got uncomfortable when Hazare's close aide Arvind Kejriwal made his speech, in which he took names of politicians who he thought were corrupt. Sources say that what hit Ramdev the most was the name of Samajwadi Party chief Mulyam Singh Yadav, because Ramdev sees him as a future ally.
During the course of his speech, Kejriwal attacked the prime minister and cabinet ministers in the government and Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Jayalalithaa and Mayawati among the supporting parties. Ramdev snubbed Kejriwal soon after, saying, 'Arvind Kejriwal should not have taken names. It could create controversy. Please, don’t see it as personal attack. This fight is not against any individual.'
Though Kejriwal left the venue in a huff after Ramdev's comments and maintained that he was 'unwell', what lies behind the move was Ramdev's political ambition. Later Kejriwal tweeted, 'This is a political battle and we will have to name and shame and demand severe action against corrupt people.'
Taking advantage of the differences in the anti-corruption camp, the Congress slammed the Hazare- Ramdev partnership. Its spokesperson Rashi Alvi told Millennium Post, 'They have an anti-Congress mindset. They have taken several names from the Congress and other parties. But, I am surprised why no one from the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been named. Why are the names of B S Yeddyurappa and Bangaru Laxman missing from their list? Whatever they have said about the leaders is totally baseless.'
POLITICAL ASANAS
High drama followed at Jantar Mantar during the one-day joint fast of Ramdev and Anna Hazare. What appeared as a cohesive exercise in the beginning eventually fell apart, as differences based on political ambitions erupted between the Hazare camp and Ramdev.
In fact, it was Ramdev who got uncomfortable when Hazare's close aide Arvind Kejriwal made his speech, in which he took names of politicians who he thought were corrupt. Sources say that what hit Ramdev the most was the name of Samajwadi Party chief Mulyam Singh Yadav, because Ramdev sees him as a future ally.
During the course of his speech, Kejriwal attacked the prime minister and cabinet ministers in the government and Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Jayalalithaa and Mayawati among the supporting parties. Ramdev snubbed Kejriwal soon after, saying, 'Arvind Kejriwal should not have taken names. It could create controversy. Please, don’t see it as personal attack. This fight is not against any individual.'
Though Kejriwal left the venue in a huff after Ramdev's comments and maintained that he was 'unwell', what lies behind the move was Ramdev's political ambition. Later Kejriwal tweeted, 'This is a political battle and we will have to name and shame and demand severe action against corrupt people.'
Taking advantage of the differences in the anti-corruption camp, the Congress slammed the Hazare- Ramdev partnership. Its spokesperson Rashi Alvi told Millennium Post, 'They have an anti-Congress mindset. They have taken several names from the Congress and other parties. But, I am surprised why no one from the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been named. Why are the names of B S Yeddyurappa and Bangaru Laxman missing from their list? Whatever they have said about the leaders is totally baseless.'
POLITICAL ASANAS
- Ramdev's volunteers in 6.38 lakh villages to collect people’s resolutions for the PM to get black money back from abroad and declare it national property.
- Ramdev launches a telephone service – 022-33081122; missed calls made to this number will be counted as support
- The baba to reveal names of politicians who do not make calls on this number
- Ramdev to meet parliamentarians and presidents of political parties to gather support for his movement against corruption
- Ramdev to hand over these written demands to the Prime Mon 8 August 2012
- If the PM takes no action, Ramdev to sit on dharna on 9 August on the anniversary of the Quit India movement