Spirits sag at Ramlila Maidan
11 Aug 2012 7:13 AM IST
A sombre mood prevailed at the Ramlila grounds on Friday, as the much-awaited response from the government to the demands forwarded by the yoga guru Ramdev did not materialise. The declaration about the future course of the agitation will be made on Saturday, which is the last day of this symbolic protest.
‘We will wait till Saturday and then announce our future course of action,’ Ramdev said on the second day of his fast, on which he raised issues of farmers’ suicide and the Land Acquisition Bill as well as advising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ‘follow the principle of honesty and integrity in his personal and professional capacities’.
Ramdev has been trying his best to turn his agitation into a nation-wide movement, encompassing all communities. It was evident at the Ramlila Maidan, as he paused the protest five times during the day to allow the ‘Muslim brethren’ to offer namaz.He got a few speakers from the southern states and in fact, on Friday, he gave an opportunity to a farmer leader from Tamil Nadu to speak in Tamil, which was translated into Hindi.
Ramdev, to keep the morale of the volunteers high, asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to act on getting back illegal money stashed abroad. ‘Why is the prime minister not acting on the issue of illegal money? The government should reveal the names of those who have illegal money stashed abroad... Stop making excuses,’ Ramdev said.
ON DAY 2, MOVEMENT LOSES STEAM
After the first day of huge footfall at Ram Lila Ground marked a good start for Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev’s Andolan against black money and corruption, the very next day, the enthusiasm seemed to have ebbed away. The number of protesters were far less on Friday, as compared to Thursday.
Volunteers, however, blamed the decrease in number to Janmashtami. Many who came on 8 August were seen returning to their home districts. Even the branding of the movement seemed weak in comparison to that of Team Anna’s movement, as the caps and badges being used differed widely.
Supporters of Baba Ramdev, on the other hand, claimed that former Chief of Army Staff, General V K Singh, has shown interest in supporting the movement in a public meeting in Gajraula in Uttar Pradesh. They, however, could not give the exact schedule of his visit.
A group of around 55 farmers from Bijnor stayed at the site for only a few hours and then went for a tour of the city. ‘We came here with our leader and will return to our home district on Friday night. Right now, we are going to have some food and then visit India Gate and other historical places in the city,’ said Hargulal Kashyap, 55, from Bijnor. The group was headed by a farmer leader, B M Singh. They were carrying placards of the pictures of B M Singh and V K Singh.
Most supporters were actually long-time followers of Baba Ramdev’s yoga and Ayurveda. ‘I had many ailments. I was depressed and fed up with Allopathic medicines. Then I saw Yoga by Baba on television and started practising it. Since the, I have been feeling much better,’ said Abhay Kumar, 35, a bakery owner in Varanasi.
‘I will stay here for one more day and then go to join my bakery,’ said Kumar. His associate, Abhay, even showed a few asanas that he learned from Ramdev. Another supporter, Neeraj Kumar, who had come from Sitapur district in Uttar Pradesh with 15 more people yesterday, is also preparing to leave in a day or two. The second day of the protest was mainly based on the farmers’ issue and farmer leaders were given more time on stage. Naresh Tikait, son of late Mahinder Singh Tikait, presented a plough to Baba Ramdev.
On Friday, many supporters danced to the patriotic and religious songs sung from the stage by performers. A supporter, Shiv Lal from Rajasthan, was dressed like Lord Krishna and a Sadhu displayed a key inscribed with slogans and mission of Baba Ramdev over it.
‘ONLY A BIG GOVT DECISION WILL END FAST’
On the second day of his fast, yoga guru Ramdev said he will not leave the protest venue without a ‘big decision’ from government on steps to bring back black money and enactment of a strong Lokpal law. After giving a build up that he will make a ‘specific announcement’ regarding the protest in the evening, he only dealt with the specifics of his demands and said he was not in talks with anyone in the government as of now though his doors are always open for dialogue. He said he will not end his protest unless the government comes up with its stand on the issues raised by him. ‘Only after a big decision from the government, we will leave Ramlila Maidan,’ he said.
WE ARE HERE TO BATTLE CORRUPTION: SUPPORTERS
Thousands of people began the day at the Ramlila Maidan early on Friday with synchronised yoga but they insisted they were there only to give strength to yoga guru Ramdev’s campaign against corruption.
Most men and women at the sprawling ground seemed to be long time followers of Ramdev but for now they are worked up over the high levels of corruption in the country.
The ground was swarming with thousands of mostly middle aged people, the front rows filled by women, as early as 7 am.
Many had spent the night at the ground, having reached it even before Ramdev started his three-day fast Thursday, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the Quit India movement.
‘Yoga can be learnt even on television. We are here only for the revolution,’ said Dheer Singh, an Arya Samaj leader from Uttarakhand. ‘We have not travelled all the way to Delhi to learn yoga.’
Ramdev is seeking the seizure of black money stashed away in foreign banks, a strong Lokpal Bill, and a transparent process while naming heads of institutions such as the CBI and Election Commission.
The yoga session on Friday morning lasted two hours, overseen by Ramdev from a raised platform.
‘I am a follower of Baba Ramdev and his yoga but it is his movement that brings me here,’ said Surendra Agarwal, a 63-year-old resident of Sadar Bazar in Delhi.
Hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel, including the Rapid Action Force, have been deployed at the ground in the heart of the capital.
‘We will wait till Saturday and then announce our future course of action,’ Ramdev said on the second day of his fast, on which he raised issues of farmers’ suicide and the Land Acquisition Bill as well as advising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ‘follow the principle of honesty and integrity in his personal and professional capacities’.
Ramdev has been trying his best to turn his agitation into a nation-wide movement, encompassing all communities. It was evident at the Ramlila Maidan, as he paused the protest five times during the day to allow the ‘Muslim brethren’ to offer namaz.He got a few speakers from the southern states and in fact, on Friday, he gave an opportunity to a farmer leader from Tamil Nadu to speak in Tamil, which was translated into Hindi.
Ramdev, to keep the morale of the volunteers high, asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to act on getting back illegal money stashed abroad. ‘Why is the prime minister not acting on the issue of illegal money? The government should reveal the names of those who have illegal money stashed abroad... Stop making excuses,’ Ramdev said.
ON DAY 2, MOVEMENT LOSES STEAM
After the first day of huge footfall at Ram Lila Ground marked a good start for Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev’s Andolan against black money and corruption, the very next day, the enthusiasm seemed to have ebbed away. The number of protesters were far less on Friday, as compared to Thursday.
Volunteers, however, blamed the decrease in number to Janmashtami. Many who came on 8 August were seen returning to their home districts. Even the branding of the movement seemed weak in comparison to that of Team Anna’s movement, as the caps and badges being used differed widely.
Supporters of Baba Ramdev, on the other hand, claimed that former Chief of Army Staff, General V K Singh, has shown interest in supporting the movement in a public meeting in Gajraula in Uttar Pradesh. They, however, could not give the exact schedule of his visit.
A group of around 55 farmers from Bijnor stayed at the site for only a few hours and then went for a tour of the city. ‘We came here with our leader and will return to our home district on Friday night. Right now, we are going to have some food and then visit India Gate and other historical places in the city,’ said Hargulal Kashyap, 55, from Bijnor. The group was headed by a farmer leader, B M Singh. They were carrying placards of the pictures of B M Singh and V K Singh.
Most supporters were actually long-time followers of Baba Ramdev’s yoga and Ayurveda. ‘I had many ailments. I was depressed and fed up with Allopathic medicines. Then I saw Yoga by Baba on television and started practising it. Since the, I have been feeling much better,’ said Abhay Kumar, 35, a bakery owner in Varanasi.
‘I will stay here for one more day and then go to join my bakery,’ said Kumar. His associate, Abhay, even showed a few asanas that he learned from Ramdev. Another supporter, Neeraj Kumar, who had come from Sitapur district in Uttar Pradesh with 15 more people yesterday, is also preparing to leave in a day or two. The second day of the protest was mainly based on the farmers’ issue and farmer leaders were given more time on stage. Naresh Tikait, son of late Mahinder Singh Tikait, presented a plough to Baba Ramdev.
On Friday, many supporters danced to the patriotic and religious songs sung from the stage by performers. A supporter, Shiv Lal from Rajasthan, was dressed like Lord Krishna and a Sadhu displayed a key inscribed with slogans and mission of Baba Ramdev over it.
‘ONLY A BIG GOVT DECISION WILL END FAST’
On the second day of his fast, yoga guru Ramdev said he will not leave the protest venue without a ‘big decision’ from government on steps to bring back black money and enactment of a strong Lokpal law. After giving a build up that he will make a ‘specific announcement’ regarding the protest in the evening, he only dealt with the specifics of his demands and said he was not in talks with anyone in the government as of now though his doors are always open for dialogue. He said he will not end his protest unless the government comes up with its stand on the issues raised by him. ‘Only after a big decision from the government, we will leave Ramlila Maidan,’ he said.
WE ARE HERE TO BATTLE CORRUPTION: SUPPORTERS
Thousands of people began the day at the Ramlila Maidan early on Friday with synchronised yoga but they insisted they were there only to give strength to yoga guru Ramdev’s campaign against corruption.
Most men and women at the sprawling ground seemed to be long time followers of Ramdev but for now they are worked up over the high levels of corruption in the country.
The ground was swarming with thousands of mostly middle aged people, the front rows filled by women, as early as 7 am.
Many had spent the night at the ground, having reached it even before Ramdev started his three-day fast Thursday, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the Quit India movement.
‘Yoga can be learnt even on television. We are here only for the revolution,’ said Dheer Singh, an Arya Samaj leader from Uttarakhand. ‘We have not travelled all the way to Delhi to learn yoga.’
Ramdev is seeking the seizure of black money stashed away in foreign banks, a strong Lokpal Bill, and a transparent process while naming heads of institutions such as the CBI and Election Commission.
The yoga session on Friday morning lasted two hours, overseen by Ramdev from a raised platform.
‘I am a follower of Baba Ramdev and his yoga but it is his movement that brings me here,’ said Surendra Agarwal, a 63-year-old resident of Sadar Bazar in Delhi.
Hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel, including the Rapid Action Force, have been deployed at the ground in the heart of the capital.
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