Ramdev readies for final confrontation
13 Aug 2012 6:58 AM IST
With the yoga guru Ramdev on Sunday failing to declare his intentions over the future course of action and the independence day just two days away, the Delhi Police has geared up to 'sanitise' the Ramlila Maidan. The main venue of the independence day celebrations, the Red Fort, is about one kilometre away from the protest venue, which is close to the route which the dignitaries including the prime minister would take on the morning of 15 August.
Ramdev indicated the possibility of leading a march to Parliament on Monday from the Ramlila Maidan, but the final announcement regarding it would only be made on Monday morning. The Delhi Police sources said that no permission had been sought or granted for the proposed march.
The special commissioner of police (law and order) Dharmender Kumar said that an immediate action would be taken by the police against the yoga guru and his supporters if they were found to be violating the code of conduct enumerated by the Supreme Court regarding those holding protests in the capital. 'The Delhi Police have given them the permission to hold a protest at the Ramlila Maidan. But, if the hold any protest march they could be booked under various sections,' Kumar said.
The police are keeping tab on all activities of Ramdev and his supporters, who are protesting since 9 August at the venue. There was a stand-off between his supporters and the police last year at the same venue, during which the police action led to the death of one of Ramdev's supporters.
AFTER ANNA, BEDI AND V K SINGH BACK RAMDEV AT RAMLILA
Frustrated at getting no response from the government, Baba Ramdev on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the Congress without naming the party. He also took credit for the party's poor electoral performance in the assembly polls held in five states a few months back.
Announcing that he was continuing his fast, Ramdev dared the police to arrest him and warned the government that he was ready to be arrested if required and ready to go to jail if needed. He also hinted of a march to the Parliament on Monday, though once again he deferred announcement of his next course of action for Monday morning. Trying to rope in political parties other than the Congress for getting support for his movement, he said that on Monday the political parties' representatives, who are supporting him on the issue, will be on the dais. He said representatives of the Biju Janata Dal and Telugu Desham Party were already there on the dais.
On Monday, member of the disbanded Team Anna, Kiran Bedi, joined Ramdev as well as former Army chief Gen VK Singh. While Bedi said for a need to 'raise a united front against corruption and to form a coalition against corrupt' Singh dubbed the government as a property dealer which takes over farmers' land in the name of development. The former Army chief had earlier shared the stage with Anna Hazare during his fast at Jantar Mantar. Singh on Sunday dubbed the government a ‘property dealer’ which takes over farmers' land in the name of development. Addressing the gathering at Ramdev's protest here this afternoon on black money and Lokpal issue, he claimed that over two lakh farmers had committed suicide since 1995 and accused the government of taking over their land in the name of development. ‘Problems of farmers will have to be taken to the forefront of this movement ... The government is taking land from farmers in the name of development. The government is working as a property dealer,’ he said addressing the crowd which was predominantly from the rural areas.The former Army chief alleged that a scam was being reported everyday and value of each scam was higher than the previous one. ‘What we want is complete all round development. Money shouldn't be distributed among just 4-5 per cent of the people only,’ he said.
Baba Ramdev attacked Congress saying though he was not singling out the party on the issue of black money, it had ruled the country for most of the time after Independence and, hence, it had to take responsibility. 'We are not here to tarnish anybody's image. But what is the danger that the Congress perceives in bringing back black money or declaring it national asset, if they do not own it? We had given you time till Saturday. Your time is over and now our innings start,' he said. 'My intention is not to defame Congress... Whichever political party is willing to fight against black money and corruption, it can join my agitation,' he added.
Addressing the crowd, he told them to stay awake on Sunday night at Ramlila Maidan.
CONGRESS SLAMS BABA RAMDEV
The UPA government has slammed Baba Ramdev's much publicised agitation at Delhi's Ramlila ground. On Sunday, Ramdev while demanding the government to take immediate action in bringing back black money, warned he might march to Parliament on Monday.
Responding to Ramdev's threat, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh said: I feel that every one has the right to protest but no one has the right to tell parliament how to frame laws. In fact no one has the right to tell people in the country who they should elect as their leaders or nominees.'
On the issue of bringing back black money stashed abroad, as alleged by Ramdev, Singh went on to say, 'Ramdev can do what he wants to. He has the freedom to say what he wants but the government has already addressed the issue of black money abroad. So there is nothing new that he is saying.'
Ramdev on Sunday also warned of a 'big revolution' if the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not meet his demands to enact a strong Lokpal and take measures to end corruption.
Ramdev indicated the possibility of leading a march to Parliament on Monday from the Ramlila Maidan, but the final announcement regarding it would only be made on Monday morning. The Delhi Police sources said that no permission had been sought or granted for the proposed march.
The special commissioner of police (law and order) Dharmender Kumar said that an immediate action would be taken by the police against the yoga guru and his supporters if they were found to be violating the code of conduct enumerated by the Supreme Court regarding those holding protests in the capital. 'The Delhi Police have given them the permission to hold a protest at the Ramlila Maidan. But, if the hold any protest march they could be booked under various sections,' Kumar said.
The police are keeping tab on all activities of Ramdev and his supporters, who are protesting since 9 August at the venue. There was a stand-off between his supporters and the police last year at the same venue, during which the police action led to the death of one of Ramdev's supporters.
AFTER ANNA, BEDI AND V K SINGH BACK RAMDEV AT RAMLILA
Frustrated at getting no response from the government, Baba Ramdev on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the Congress without naming the party. He also took credit for the party's poor electoral performance in the assembly polls held in five states a few months back.
Announcing that he was continuing his fast, Ramdev dared the police to arrest him and warned the government that he was ready to be arrested if required and ready to go to jail if needed. He also hinted of a march to the Parliament on Monday, though once again he deferred announcement of his next course of action for Monday morning. Trying to rope in political parties other than the Congress for getting support for his movement, he said that on Monday the political parties' representatives, who are supporting him on the issue, will be on the dais. He said representatives of the Biju Janata Dal and Telugu Desham Party were already there on the dais.
On Monday, member of the disbanded Team Anna, Kiran Bedi, joined Ramdev as well as former Army chief Gen VK Singh. While Bedi said for a need to 'raise a united front against corruption and to form a coalition against corrupt' Singh dubbed the government as a property dealer which takes over farmers' land in the name of development. The former Army chief had earlier shared the stage with Anna Hazare during his fast at Jantar Mantar. Singh on Sunday dubbed the government a ‘property dealer’ which takes over farmers' land in the name of development. Addressing the gathering at Ramdev's protest here this afternoon on black money and Lokpal issue, he claimed that over two lakh farmers had committed suicide since 1995 and accused the government of taking over their land in the name of development. ‘Problems of farmers will have to be taken to the forefront of this movement ... The government is taking land from farmers in the name of development. The government is working as a property dealer,’ he said addressing the crowd which was predominantly from the rural areas.The former Army chief alleged that a scam was being reported everyday and value of each scam was higher than the previous one. ‘What we want is complete all round development. Money shouldn't be distributed among just 4-5 per cent of the people only,’ he said.
Baba Ramdev attacked Congress saying though he was not singling out the party on the issue of black money, it had ruled the country for most of the time after Independence and, hence, it had to take responsibility. 'We are not here to tarnish anybody's image. But what is the danger that the Congress perceives in bringing back black money or declaring it national asset, if they do not own it? We had given you time till Saturday. Your time is over and now our innings start,' he said. 'My intention is not to defame Congress... Whichever political party is willing to fight against black money and corruption, it can join my agitation,' he added.
Addressing the crowd, he told them to stay awake on Sunday night at Ramlila Maidan.
CONGRESS SLAMS BABA RAMDEV
The UPA government has slammed Baba Ramdev's much publicised agitation at Delhi's Ramlila ground. On Sunday, Ramdev while demanding the government to take immediate action in bringing back black money, warned he might march to Parliament on Monday.
Responding to Ramdev's threat, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh said: I feel that every one has the right to protest but no one has the right to tell parliament how to frame laws. In fact no one has the right to tell people in the country who they should elect as their leaders or nominees.'
On the issue of bringing back black money stashed abroad, as alleged by Ramdev, Singh went on to say, 'Ramdev can do what he wants to. He has the freedom to say what he wants but the government has already addressed the issue of black money abroad. So there is nothing new that he is saying.'
Ramdev on Sunday also warned of a 'big revolution' if the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not meet his demands to enact a strong Lokpal and take measures to end corruption.
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