Baba shows numbers
10 Aug 2012 6:25 AM IST
Though yoga guru Ramdev showed numbers on day one of his agitation on illegal money, the government refused to count them. On the first day of the agitation at the Ramlila Maidan on Thursday, which drew good crowds, the yoga guru said that the first three days of agitation would be symbolic and he would decide on 12 August about the next course of the movement if the government did not fulfil his demands. His demands, incidentally, have gone beyond the issue of bringing back illegal money to the country.
While demanding that the illegal money stashed abroad be brought back, Ramdev expanded his agenda to the issues like the Lokpal Bill, an independent Central Bureau of Investigation and transparency in appointment of election commissioners, Comptroller and Auditor General and the Chief Vigilance Commissioner.
However, the government did not show any signs of inviting Ramdev for a dialogue, with the union law minister Salman Khurshid saying that every year Ramlia took place at the Ramlila Maidan and that there was nothing new in it. The chairperson of the select committee of Parliament examining the Lokpal Bill, Congress MP Satyavrat Chaturvedi, simply refused to acknowledge the presence of Ramdev and his supporters at the historic grounds.
The yoga guru also chose the occasion to drive a wedge in Team Anna, which has been running a parallel anti-graft crusade. He said that the anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare is still with his movement. 'Anna Hazare was always there and is still with us in the fight,' said Ramdev and added, 'We would also welcome Justice Santosh Hegde and Kiran Bedi as this agitation is not for making any person into an issue, but to turn the system into an issue.' He remained silent about the mainstay of Hazare's movement Arvind Kejriwal and his close aide Manish Sisodiya.
Addressing the crowd, he warned the government that if demands were not met, a revolution would start across the country. 'We will not react to the abuses by the government in the next three days, but if our demands are not met, then there will be a language of revolt,' Ramdev told the crowd of over 15,000 supporters.
RAMDEV RULES AT RAMLILA MAIDAN
Any member of anti-graft-crusader Anna Hazare's now disbanded Team, who felt that his movement drew its strength from the support of the grassroots people, needed to be at Ramlila Maidan on Thursday to check yoga guru Ramdev’s popularity with the masses. The numbers were there at Anna's Jantar Mantar fast as well, perhaps on days even more than that at Ramlila Maidan on the first day of Ramdev's agitation against corruption and black money on Thursday. But while Anna's following was made of an equal share of the classes and masses, Ramdev's supporters were mostly from that section that is referred to by intellectual urbanites, politicians and activists as the 'real India'.
Supporters from Haryana, Uttrakhand, Bihar, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and other states were gathered at the camp. A 5000-strong group had come from Kartanaka.
And it was blind faith in Ramdev that had brought them to Delhi. Whether it is yoga or protesting against black money, these people would follow Ramdev in whatever he did. Ramdev however, hardly seemed to have won favour with the local people of the capital. The majority of the 15,000 strong crowd at Ramlila Maidan on Thursday came from outside. Many were regular parts of his entourage. They have come packed for the next few days and will be camping at Ramlila Maidan for the next few days. Outside the entry to the grounds, there is a big registration desk. Participants have to fill a form giving their name and occupation and in what way they are going to support the movement, by just being present at the venue or by fasting for the cause – of a move against black money. There are separate registration desks for people of different states. At one end of the ground is the kitchen, where people are queued up for the free meal. Nearer the dais where Ramdev is seated, people are either energetically waving flags, chatting (about everything from saris to businesses) or resting. Entire families are camped at Ramlila Maidan, from the very old accompanying their sons and daughter to children who have come with their parents.
Uttam Kirtikar from Mumbai is a follower of Ramdev and follows him to most of his programmes across the country. The life-member of Patanjali Yogpeeth, one of Ramdev's projects, was dressed in ochre colour and sports an Anna-like cap, only orange in colour with 'Kala Dhan Lana Hai, Desh Ko Bachana Hai' written on it. 'I used to have a government job. I got Rs 5 lakhs from the company after my retirement. I donated one lakh from it to become a life member of Patanjali Yogpeeth,' he said.
'I have been to Ramdev programmes in Pune, Hyderabad, Delhi and Haridwar in the past. This time I have got others with me to the protest. I am going to camp for three days at Ramlila Maidan and spend a few days taking the others around Delhi,’ he added. Sixty-seven year-old ex-factory worker Chandrakanta is a first-timer. 'I want to see the Red Fort and Qutub Minar while I am in Delhi,' he said shyly.
Sight-seeing however, is far from the minds of most of those camping at Ram Lila grounds. 35-year-old Dhananjay Mishra has come all the way from Chhapra in Bihar with his 70-year-old father, his mother, wife and two young sons. 'We have been followers of Ramdev for the past two years, after he cured my father's diabetes and joint pain. We have been part of his yoga programmes in and around Chhapra before, but never travelled this far for a programme. I had to close my business to be here, but we are going to camp here as long as he is,' said Mishra.
He is a member of Ramdev's Bharat Swabhiman movement. Jayashree and Padma are part of a 5000 strong crowd from Karnataka. 'The local contact for Ramdev informed us about the event. We are here for him,' said Jayashree.
AFTER ANNA, BABA CAPS THE TREND
Picking from the popularity of caps at Anna Hazare's agitations, vendors here have come up with merchandise on Baba Ramdev that sold like hot cakes on day one of the yoga guru's anti-corruption show here at Ramlila ground Thursday.
Starting at Rs.10, the merchandise included Ramdev caps and wrist bands. After the famous ‘I am Anna’ caps, it was Ramdev cap with the message of his protest clearly printed on it. The caps read: ‘Kaala dhan wapis laana hai, desh ko bachana hai.’
For vendors, it meant brisk business as they sold many caps to white-kurta clad Ramdev's supporters.
‘I have sold more than 60 caps within 2-3 hours of the fast,’ said Arvind Pal, a cap-seller.
The next in-thing after the caps were tri-coloured wrist bands which were also very popular among supporters.
Pal said he had sold over 40 such bands within hours.
For the supporters, it was a gesture of showing their support to the yoga guru who has been agitating against black money and corruption. The ground in central Delhi reverberated with slogans as thousands of Ramdev supporters packed into it. ‘The cap is a recognition of my support to Ramdev-ji,’ Anil Chauhan, a supporter from Aurangabad district of Bihar, told IANS.
The volunteers were seen dressed in white T-shirts with Ramdev's image printed on them.
‘We have earned this T-shirt through our hardwork and dedication for this protest and I feel very proud of myself after wearing it,’ said Jagdish, a supporter from Uttarakhand.
The yoga guru began a three-day symbolic fast and warned of a revolution if the government failed to initiate steps towards a stringent Lokpal bill and bringing back black money.
VOLUNTEERS RECEIVED SPECIAL TRAINING IN CROWD CONTROL
Having learnt from his experience in June 2011, yoga guru Ramdev has lined-up a batch of well-trained volunteers at Ramlila Maidan this time to control the crowd of supporters. The volunteers, about 3000 in number, from Bharat Swabhiman Trust have been specially trained at Patanjali Yogapeeth in Haridwar for the protest that started on Thursday.
'Volunteers have been dressed in t-shirts with Yuva Bharat printed on them and are on duty round-the-clock to control the crowd. The volunteers are working on rotation shifts,' said a senior member of the trust.
Baba Ramdev is holding a protest against black money at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. Thursday, the first day of the protest, saw an at least 15,000 strong crowd of supporters at the agitation venue. On the very first day of protest, around 2000 volunteers from all over the country have been deputed at the ground.
While the Delhi police personnel are deputed in and outside the ground, these volunteers are managing the crowd movement and security inside the venue. 'We were specially trained in Haridwar in self defence. The training lasted for about 20 days,' said Kemraj, a volunteer deputed near Ramdev's dais. Kemraj who hails from the Baitul district in Madhya Pradesh, said they were also taught how to maintain self disciplined during an untoward situation. Arrangements at the protest venue include that of Suraksha [security], Bhojan [food], Manch [stage] and Anya [others]. Volunteers are managing each of these four departments.
Ramdev supporters and Delhi police had a stand-off last year at the same venue when Ramdev was staging a fast against corruption and black money. Ramdev came back again with the same aggression on the ground, this time.
Meanwhile, Delhi police this time doesn not want any kind of scuffle with the supporters. Around 5000 police personnel have been deputed at the venue but without batons. Last time, cops had allegedly beaten up Ramdev supporters with batons. Six policemen were booked in the case after receiving court orders.
Four kinds of arrangements have been categorised which are put in place. Suraksha [security], Bhojan [food], Manch [stage] and Anya [others] arrangements which are looking after by these volunteers.
Five machans and a police control room have also been set up at the venue. Fire tenders and first aid facilities with a team of two doctors have been deputed at the ground.
RAMLILA TAKES PLACE EVERY YEAR: KHURSHID
Taking a jibe at Baba Ramdev's protest at Ramlila Maidan, union Law Minister Salman Khurshid Thursday said that ‘Ramlila takes place every year’.
‘Ramlila takes place every year. Similarly, in a democracy people have different opinions which they display regularly. Since it is happening before the people, they will make a decision,’ Khurshid told reporters.
Ramdev Thursday started his protest against black money and corruption.
A controversy was triggered at the venue over a banner showing Ramdev's close aide Balkrishna, who is in jail in a case related to fraud, along with Mahatma Gandhi and several other prominent persons.
The banner was later removed.
The Congress condemned the banner, saying it is for Ramdev to answer.
‘To put the photo of a person against whom fraud case is registered and who is in jail, along with Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Sardar Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, is condemnable,’ said union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.
PHONE THIEVES HAVE A FIELD DAY
Phone snatchers had a field day at Ramlila Maidan, the venue of yoga guru Ramdev's fast, as over 50 mobile phones were reported missing from the ground. Police have however denied the allegations. Four to five people, who allegedly stole the phones, were caught by the volunteers who were asked by Ramdev not to punish them. But police however, claimed that they have not yet found any complainant so far.
‘Give lighter punishments to these small thieves. Catch bigger thieves,’ the yoga guru apparently said. Volunteers said over 50 mobile phones are reported to have been stolen.
RAMDEV AIDE BECOMES POSTER BOY
Ramdev’s protest against black money and corruption courted controversy on the very first day on Thursday. A poster showing Ramdev's close aide Balakrishna alongside Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters triggered a controversy following which the yoga guru expressed regret.
The poster had Balakrishna's image along with that of Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose and other freedom fighters.
As soon as TV channels ran a news story about the controversial poster, the organisers removed it from the protest venue. The removal of the poster happened even before Ramdev arrived at the dais.
‘We regret this. I urge activists not to carry such posters. Attention should not be diverted from the core issue,’ Ramdev said. Balakrishna is in CBI custody in connection with a fake document case. Commenting on the poster, RLD MP Jayant Chaudhary said that such a depiction could raise questions as to what that person had done to deserve such an honour.
While demanding that the illegal money stashed abroad be brought back, Ramdev expanded his agenda to the issues like the Lokpal Bill, an independent Central Bureau of Investigation and transparency in appointment of election commissioners, Comptroller and Auditor General and the Chief Vigilance Commissioner.
However, the government did not show any signs of inviting Ramdev for a dialogue, with the union law minister Salman Khurshid saying that every year Ramlia took place at the Ramlila Maidan and that there was nothing new in it. The chairperson of the select committee of Parliament examining the Lokpal Bill, Congress MP Satyavrat Chaturvedi, simply refused to acknowledge the presence of Ramdev and his supporters at the historic grounds.
The yoga guru also chose the occasion to drive a wedge in Team Anna, which has been running a parallel anti-graft crusade. He said that the anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare is still with his movement. 'Anna Hazare was always there and is still with us in the fight,' said Ramdev and added, 'We would also welcome Justice Santosh Hegde and Kiran Bedi as this agitation is not for making any person into an issue, but to turn the system into an issue.' He remained silent about the mainstay of Hazare's movement Arvind Kejriwal and his close aide Manish Sisodiya.
Addressing the crowd, he warned the government that if demands were not met, a revolution would start across the country. 'We will not react to the abuses by the government in the next three days, but if our demands are not met, then there will be a language of revolt,' Ramdev told the crowd of over 15,000 supporters.
RAMDEV RULES AT RAMLILA MAIDAN
Any member of anti-graft-crusader Anna Hazare's now disbanded Team, who felt that his movement drew its strength from the support of the grassroots people, needed to be at Ramlila Maidan on Thursday to check yoga guru Ramdev’s popularity with the masses. The numbers were there at Anna's Jantar Mantar fast as well, perhaps on days even more than that at Ramlila Maidan on the first day of Ramdev's agitation against corruption and black money on Thursday. But while Anna's following was made of an equal share of the classes and masses, Ramdev's supporters were mostly from that section that is referred to by intellectual urbanites, politicians and activists as the 'real India'.
Supporters from Haryana, Uttrakhand, Bihar, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and other states were gathered at the camp. A 5000-strong group had come from Kartanaka.
And it was blind faith in Ramdev that had brought them to Delhi. Whether it is yoga or protesting against black money, these people would follow Ramdev in whatever he did. Ramdev however, hardly seemed to have won favour with the local people of the capital. The majority of the 15,000 strong crowd at Ramlila Maidan on Thursday came from outside. Many were regular parts of his entourage. They have come packed for the next few days and will be camping at Ramlila Maidan for the next few days. Outside the entry to the grounds, there is a big registration desk. Participants have to fill a form giving their name and occupation and in what way they are going to support the movement, by just being present at the venue or by fasting for the cause – of a move against black money. There are separate registration desks for people of different states. At one end of the ground is the kitchen, where people are queued up for the free meal. Nearer the dais where Ramdev is seated, people are either energetically waving flags, chatting (about everything from saris to businesses) or resting. Entire families are camped at Ramlila Maidan, from the very old accompanying their sons and daughter to children who have come with their parents.
Uttam Kirtikar from Mumbai is a follower of Ramdev and follows him to most of his programmes across the country. The life-member of Patanjali Yogpeeth, one of Ramdev's projects, was dressed in ochre colour and sports an Anna-like cap, only orange in colour with 'Kala Dhan Lana Hai, Desh Ko Bachana Hai' written on it. 'I used to have a government job. I got Rs 5 lakhs from the company after my retirement. I donated one lakh from it to become a life member of Patanjali Yogpeeth,' he said.
'I have been to Ramdev programmes in Pune, Hyderabad, Delhi and Haridwar in the past. This time I have got others with me to the protest. I am going to camp for three days at Ramlila Maidan and spend a few days taking the others around Delhi,’ he added. Sixty-seven year-old ex-factory worker Chandrakanta is a first-timer. 'I want to see the Red Fort and Qutub Minar while I am in Delhi,' he said shyly.
Sight-seeing however, is far from the minds of most of those camping at Ram Lila grounds. 35-year-old Dhananjay Mishra has come all the way from Chhapra in Bihar with his 70-year-old father, his mother, wife and two young sons. 'We have been followers of Ramdev for the past two years, after he cured my father's diabetes and joint pain. We have been part of his yoga programmes in and around Chhapra before, but never travelled this far for a programme. I had to close my business to be here, but we are going to camp here as long as he is,' said Mishra.
He is a member of Ramdev's Bharat Swabhiman movement. Jayashree and Padma are part of a 5000 strong crowd from Karnataka. 'The local contact for Ramdev informed us about the event. We are here for him,' said Jayashree.
AFTER ANNA, BABA CAPS THE TREND
Picking from the popularity of caps at Anna Hazare's agitations, vendors here have come up with merchandise on Baba Ramdev that sold like hot cakes on day one of the yoga guru's anti-corruption show here at Ramlila ground Thursday.
Starting at Rs.10, the merchandise included Ramdev caps and wrist bands. After the famous ‘I am Anna’ caps, it was Ramdev cap with the message of his protest clearly printed on it. The caps read: ‘Kaala dhan wapis laana hai, desh ko bachana hai.’
For vendors, it meant brisk business as they sold many caps to white-kurta clad Ramdev's supporters.
‘I have sold more than 60 caps within 2-3 hours of the fast,’ said Arvind Pal, a cap-seller.
The next in-thing after the caps were tri-coloured wrist bands which were also very popular among supporters.
Pal said he had sold over 40 such bands within hours.
For the supporters, it was a gesture of showing their support to the yoga guru who has been agitating against black money and corruption. The ground in central Delhi reverberated with slogans as thousands of Ramdev supporters packed into it. ‘The cap is a recognition of my support to Ramdev-ji,’ Anil Chauhan, a supporter from Aurangabad district of Bihar, told IANS.
The volunteers were seen dressed in white T-shirts with Ramdev's image printed on them.
‘We have earned this T-shirt through our hardwork and dedication for this protest and I feel very proud of myself after wearing it,’ said Jagdish, a supporter from Uttarakhand.
The yoga guru began a three-day symbolic fast and warned of a revolution if the government failed to initiate steps towards a stringent Lokpal bill and bringing back black money.
VOLUNTEERS RECEIVED SPECIAL TRAINING IN CROWD CONTROL
Having learnt from his experience in June 2011, yoga guru Ramdev has lined-up a batch of well-trained volunteers at Ramlila Maidan this time to control the crowd of supporters. The volunteers, about 3000 in number, from Bharat Swabhiman Trust have been specially trained at Patanjali Yogapeeth in Haridwar for the protest that started on Thursday.
'Volunteers have been dressed in t-shirts with Yuva Bharat printed on them and are on duty round-the-clock to control the crowd. The volunteers are working on rotation shifts,' said a senior member of the trust.
Baba Ramdev is holding a protest against black money at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. Thursday, the first day of the protest, saw an at least 15,000 strong crowd of supporters at the agitation venue. On the very first day of protest, around 2000 volunteers from all over the country have been deputed at the ground.
While the Delhi police personnel are deputed in and outside the ground, these volunteers are managing the crowd movement and security inside the venue. 'We were specially trained in Haridwar in self defence. The training lasted for about 20 days,' said Kemraj, a volunteer deputed near Ramdev's dais. Kemraj who hails from the Baitul district in Madhya Pradesh, said they were also taught how to maintain self disciplined during an untoward situation. Arrangements at the protest venue include that of Suraksha [security], Bhojan [food], Manch [stage] and Anya [others]. Volunteers are managing each of these four departments.
Ramdev supporters and Delhi police had a stand-off last year at the same venue when Ramdev was staging a fast against corruption and black money. Ramdev came back again with the same aggression on the ground, this time.
Meanwhile, Delhi police this time doesn not want any kind of scuffle with the supporters. Around 5000 police personnel have been deputed at the venue but without batons. Last time, cops had allegedly beaten up Ramdev supporters with batons. Six policemen were booked in the case after receiving court orders.
Four kinds of arrangements have been categorised which are put in place. Suraksha [security], Bhojan [food], Manch [stage] and Anya [others] arrangements which are looking after by these volunteers.
Five machans and a police control room have also been set up at the venue. Fire tenders and first aid facilities with a team of two doctors have been deputed at the ground.
RAMLILA TAKES PLACE EVERY YEAR: KHURSHID
Taking a jibe at Baba Ramdev's protest at Ramlila Maidan, union Law Minister Salman Khurshid Thursday said that ‘Ramlila takes place every year’.
‘Ramlila takes place every year. Similarly, in a democracy people have different opinions which they display regularly. Since it is happening before the people, they will make a decision,’ Khurshid told reporters.
Ramdev Thursday started his protest against black money and corruption.
A controversy was triggered at the venue over a banner showing Ramdev's close aide Balkrishna, who is in jail in a case related to fraud, along with Mahatma Gandhi and several other prominent persons.
The banner was later removed.
The Congress condemned the banner, saying it is for Ramdev to answer.
‘To put the photo of a person against whom fraud case is registered and who is in jail, along with Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Sardar Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, is condemnable,’ said union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.
PHONE THIEVES HAVE A FIELD DAY
Phone snatchers had a field day at Ramlila Maidan, the venue of yoga guru Ramdev's fast, as over 50 mobile phones were reported missing from the ground. Police have however denied the allegations. Four to five people, who allegedly stole the phones, were caught by the volunteers who were asked by Ramdev not to punish them. But police however, claimed that they have not yet found any complainant so far.
‘Give lighter punishments to these small thieves. Catch bigger thieves,’ the yoga guru apparently said. Volunteers said over 50 mobile phones are reported to have been stolen.
RAMDEV AIDE BECOMES POSTER BOY
Ramdev’s protest against black money and corruption courted controversy on the very first day on Thursday. A poster showing Ramdev's close aide Balakrishna alongside Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters triggered a controversy following which the yoga guru expressed regret.
The poster had Balakrishna's image along with that of Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose and other freedom fighters.
As soon as TV channels ran a news story about the controversial poster, the organisers removed it from the protest venue. The removal of the poster happened even before Ramdev arrived at the dais.
‘We regret this. I urge activists not to carry such posters. Attention should not be diverted from the core issue,’ Ramdev said. Balakrishna is in CBI custody in connection with a fake document case. Commenting on the poster, RLD MP Jayant Chaudhary said that such a depiction could raise questions as to what that person had done to deserve such an honour.
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