"I'll back anyone who fights against black money, corruption"
Returning to Delhi for the first time after the June 4 crackdown on his Ramlila grounds rally, yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Sunday renewed his attack on the government and claimed that it had “no will” to create a strong Lokpal to check corruption.
Declaring that he would continue his battle against black money and corruption till the end, Ramdev said he would lend support to anyone who fought against these evils. But he declined to give a specific answer to a volley of questions from journalists whether he would once again join hands with social activist Anna Hazare and his team.
“I will back anyone and everyone who fights against the curse of black money and corruption. That is the issue at stake… It is not [the question of] Anna or Ramdev. Let us not bring in any individual. The issue is important.”
Ramdev declared that he would undertake a yatra through the length and breadth of the country to create public awareness of corruption and black money. “I had already undertaken a 1 lakh-km yatra before the Ramlila grounds rally. Now, I will undertake a 2 lakh-km yatra.”
Ramdev denied that he fled the grounds to evade arrest. “I was prepared to be arrested. But, the police force appeared to be intent on eliminating me. I had no choice. I didn't want to die at the hands of a police force that was acting as a puppet in the hands of the Central government… I was arrested outside. If I had been caught inside, I would not have been seen again.”
Terming the crackdown on the Ramlila grounds rally “murder of democracy,” Ramdev alleged that there had been “attempts to molest and rape women.”
“Sarkar pehle bhrashtachari hi thi, ab who atyachari bhi ho gayi [Earlier, the government was only corrupt, now it is indulging in atrocities too].”
Rejecting claims that he was acting at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Ramdev said he was not a “mukota” (mask) of any political party. “I am only a mukota of the people… I do not belong to any party.”
Referring to demands for a probe into his assets, Ramdev noted that he had already made public the accounts of the trusts and other bodies run by his organisation. He said all political parties should follow suit and make their accounts public.
“If it is proved that I have stashed away even one rupee in black money, I am prepared to have it declared national property… I hope others will also do the same.”
Asserting that he had not done anything illegal or unconstitutional to attract government action, he said: “Fighting corruption and black money can't be considered a wrong thing. If that were so, I am prepared to plead guilty.”
In this context, he noted that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself had written to him, and four senior Cabinet Ministers, including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, received him at the airport when he came to Delhi for the rally. “If I were communal, or a Naxalite or a terrorist, they would not have done that.”
Keywords: Baba Ramdev fast, Ramlila crackdown, black money issue
People should rise to the occassion, inform their MP's and MLA's about their verdict for the lokpal bill and ensure that the MP's behave accordingly. The Indian constitution does allow people to call their electorate under dire circumstances if the MP's fail to act upon people's verdict. Do not wait for 5 years
Baba Ramdev is fighting for a cause - a great national cause. He is not alone in this fight - the entire nation is with him and with corruption crusaders like Anna Hazare. Government is complacent. It will not take any action for obvious reasons against those - from ministers and bureaucrats - indulging in corrupt practices. People want to change this evil system. They want to see a new India which is peaceful and prosperous and of course, free from corruption. Annaji and Ramdevji are dedicated and patriotic revolutionaries of the country. We support their movement wholeheartedly.
More then 70% people at present acknowledge the importance of swami Ramdev to provide the alternative honest candidate in coming lok sabha election.This is in the educated society who mostly avoid to exercise there franchise will also participate. This time it is also hope that all the calculation of parties will not work out. So all the political parties who want to realy serve the poor on the cost of there money mind and body will able to save the existence. Those who think that they can win election by muscle and money power will totally ruin. Now gone are the days when leaders want to win an election and enjoy on the cost of exchequer.
And then Kapil Sibal says...we do not want to involve Civil Society for drafting Bills. These bills are enacted to be enforced on the civil society and all we could do in our form of democracy is to depend on the collective intelligence of the people we elect. There has to be a way to amend this 'point of no return' and 'you can touch me only after 5 years' system. All at moment moment we could do is expect "self accountability from a class that has shown every thing but the same owing to 'coalition/self political compulsions'.
Baba Ramdevji dared to fight against corruption and black money which is a great attempt to improve the poor people's situation to live normal and better lives. Why the rich people are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer day by day because the poor people can't raise their voices against this corruption.
The declared aims of the anti-corruption movement are to create a fairer India (where national assets are not plundered and amassed in India and abroad for individual gain), a less stressful India (where all citizens can go about their daily lives without facing threats to pay bribes), a more moral India (where honest behaviour is valued and
rewarded again).
The above noble aims to build a better India for all should be supported by all Indians. Yet they can only be achieved in a non-violent, respectful atmosphere, and the methods employed must be gentle, humble, truthful, knowing, wilful yet loving, never criminal or hateful. (As Mahatma Gandhi said after the Chauri Chaura tragedy in 1922.)
Everyone involved here is a fellow Indian, the society must not be allowed to splinter.
The best way for Manmohan/Sonia combine to stop the momentum generated for Lokpal bill (protest ) related civil disobedience, is to make Anna Hazare and his followers to believe that the Government is also concerned about their cause and is willing to work with them to find a solution.
Hazare took the bait. He expected the Government to be honest in what they said. It is obvious that the Congress led government has no intention of having a REALLY STRONG Lokpal bill... to stop corruption, bribery, election fraud and most importantly going after BLACK MONEY.
Rajaji used to say: "Socialism leads to Statism and corruption. Let
there be less of Statism and more of free enterprises".
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