Government warns Ramdev of action for ‘building an army’ remark
June 8th, 2011 - 7:38 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, June 8 (IANS) The central government Wednesday said yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s reported remark that he is ready to arm his supporters in self defence was “anti-national”.
“It is very clear that the statement given by Baba Ramdev is anti-national and action should be taken against him,” Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) V. Narayanasamy told NDTV channel.
“I would press upon the home minister (P.Chidambaram) to take action against him,” he said.
In Haridwar, Ramdev said: “We will build an army of 11,000 men and women.”
The yoga guru stressed that he does not favour an armed revolution but will not allow the repeat of what happened at the Ramlila Ground.
“Dedicated young men and women would be imparted both ’shaastra’ (Vedic education) and ’shastra’ (arms training),” said Ramdev, who continued his fast for the fifth day.
On the midnight police crackdown against Ramdev and his supporters June 5, Narayanasamy said Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his cabinet colleagues negotiated with the Ramdev and he had promised that he would end his fast.
But he continued his fast, the minister said.
“It is my belief that the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) has been firing from the shoulders of Baba Ramdev. It has been proved without doubt that all the Sangh Parivar people were supporting his movement,” he added.
“There were around thousands of people at the maidan and those who have alleged sustaining injuries are about 29-30. What was Gandhiji’s ’satyagraha’? When British told Gandhiji that he cannot fast because of prohibitory orders, he and his followers obliged. That is real satyagraha,” he added.
He said Ramdev defied the police and jumped off from the stage and then escaped wearing women’s clothing. “That is not satyagraha,” he said.
“The government did not use force. They used only tear gas. When section 144 is imposed, people are not allowed to remain there. Therefore, it was done by the government and it was well within its right to do so,” he clarified.
“Baba Ramdev, his followers and the Sangh Parivar should have obeyed the orders of the government,” Narayanasamy added.
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Tags: bjp, cabinet colleagues, central government, fifth day, finance minister, gandhiji, home minister, maidan, minister of state, ndtv, pmo, police crackdown, pranab mukherjee, sangh parivar, satyagraha, self defence, shaastra, shastra, tear gas, yoga guru