The midnight crackdown by the Delhi police on Swami Ramdev's protest has evoked mixed response in Punjab. While the Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, described it as “a dark spot on democracy and a shocking violation of fundamental democratic rights,” the opposition Congress has said the Yoga Guru's credentials are suspect as he was rewarded with land largesse by governments.
Through a statement, Mr. Badal condemned the “brutal” police action against “the peaceful gathering” at New Delhi's Ramlila Maidan early Sunday morning. He also demanded that black money stashed away in foreign banks be brought back and declared a national asset. He said that the Akali Dal fully supported the efforts of the members of the civil society in dealing with the issue.
Amarinder's poser
However, the president of the Punjab unit of the Congress, Amarinder Singh, questioned the moral authority of Baba Ramdev in holding the fast against corruption and black money when his own credentials were not above board. He disclosed that the yoga guru was an unauthorised beneficiary of the largesse of the Himachal Pradesh government as he had supported the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Through a separate statement, Captain Singh revealed that the BJP government in Himachal Pradesh had given 127 bhigas of land to Baba
Ramdev in village Sadhupul on Kandaghat-Chail Road, on lease for a period of 99 years on a token rent while the actual cost of the land was worth several crore rupees.
“Owned by my ancestors”
Capt. Singh said there was a house “Anand Bhawan” on the land, which was originally owned by his ancestors. In the 1950s, his father (late) Maharaja Yadvinder Singh handed over it to the government, as a gift to the children of the country and named it Indira Gandhi Holiday Home. By handing over the same to Baba Ramdev, the present Himachal Pradesh government had denied thousands of children the right to use it for summer vacations.
The Pradesh Congress Committee president asked Baba Ramdev as to how he had accepted that land virtually free of cost. “Is this not corruption as you are supporting the BJP and in return its government gave you the prime land worth crores of rupees?” asked Capt. Singh.
PPP backs Ramdev
On the other hand, the Peoples Party of Punjab (PPP) condemned the Central government's action. The party claimed to have been raising its voice against corruption in Punjab and efforts to suppress the voice of the people found strong resonance, referring to what happened at the Ramlila grounds.
