Govt struggles to pacify Baba Ramdev

The Indian government on Thursday seemed to take a harder hand to convince Baba Ramdev to not go ahead with his hunger strike as it denied point blank one of his demands and hinted that it would negotiate with the yoga guru only on their own terms.

Less than 48 hours were left for the anti-graft ?fast unto death? to go live at the Ram Lila maidan in New Delhi and and huge tents complete with basic amenities have been put up as Ramdev?s associates said over 50 lakh people have called in to pledge their support.

Cabinet minister of the coalition government at the Centre held another day of frantic talks with the yoga guru and several closed-door meetings in attempts to diffuse the impending impasse, but by the evening they seemed to have somewhat hardened their stance.

On Wednesday, a red carpet welcome had greeted the bearded, saffron-clad yoga star as he descended from a private jet in the New Delhi airport as the government?s stalwarts including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Telecoms Minister Kapil Sibal went to receive him.

The seemingly desperate attempt to appease Ramdev, whose business empire of yoga sessions, televisions shows and ayurvedic medicine generates over Rs 180 crore every year and commands a huge fan following, had apparently generated internal dissent within the Congress party.

Some party members reportedly felt that acting in haste the ministers had stooped too low. Venting anger at the yoga guru, Congress leader Digvijay Singh took on Baba Ramdev saying he is ?more like a businessman?.

Singh seemed to take offence as media reports compared his party-led beleaguered government?s last ditch attempts to convince Ramdev to not go ahead with the strike with hoop dances, and said that the party was ?not afraid of him?.

Putting on a brave front the government reportedly unconditionally denied one of Ramdev?s demands: that of withdrawing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes which were the favourites in illicit transactions and of no real use to largely poor Indian population, according to the yoga guru.

But Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal said he will meet Baba Ramdev on Friday and the talks will continue.

?As politicians we have to meet people. This shouldn’t be seen as weakness. If the government is serious and Ramdev is serious, there should be no problem in resolving the issue,? he was quoted as saing.

However, the ministers, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, were genuinely concerned and sources said even as leaders projected a toned down approach, feverish ?back channel? attempts were being made to try and persuade Ramdev to call off his strike.

Last April, a similar five-day campaign by Gandhian social activist Anna Hazare that drew unprecedented mass support had forced the government to meet every one of his demands regarding a tough ombudsman law and face public scorn.

Hazare meanwhile, reiterated his full support to Ramdev?s strike, that demands the administration take strong steps towards repatriating illicit funds of the Indian rich stashed in offshore accounts to evade tax.

Hazare said that government had ?cheated? him during his campaign and turned back on its promises that it had made while convincing him to call of his 98-hour-long hunger strike demanding the Jan Lokpal Bill.

He said that if the government did not meet Ramdev?s demands and the strike went ahead, he would join the yoga guru on June 5 in New Delhi and advise him over taking a tough stand so that the government could not short change them yet again.

Claiming a support of one crore people, yoga guru has placed forth a bevy of demands, the prime of which talk about “quantifiable steps” to repatriate Rs 400 lakh core worth of Indian illicit funds supposedly stashed away in offshore banks.

Ramdev has said that this so-called ?black money? suspected of being funds paid for bribes or other illegal transactions and stashed away to evade taxes could provide a huge boost to the Indian economy.

?When the black money is brought back, our economy will be so huge, our currency will be so strong that our one rupee will be equal to $50,? he was quoted in an interview earlier this week, where he demanded that the government take firm steps on retrieving the funds.

His other proposals also include withdrawing large denomination currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 that he says are used for illicit transactions, introduce the death penalty for corrupt officials and dispose of graft lawsuits within one year.

Even though some of the demands of the 46-year-old guru, who believes that homosexuality along with Cancer and HIV/AIDS can be cured through yoga, seemed eccentric, the government worked hard to not directly contradict his demands, except the one regarding withdrawing bank notes.

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan however made no qualms about rejecting the Baba?s strike, who has his own political party, for having a hidden agenda and being politically motivated, as he said he would not support the movement.

?I won?t support him. He has some agenda. Whenever someone becomes a public leader they resort to things like this,? said the actor in Hindi, at a promotional event for his upcoming film.

?One should do what is appropriate for him or her. Even if someone is a public leader this is not the right way to raise an issue,? he said, asking his fans to not fall prey to such tactics.

However, the Congress-led coalition government, beset by the unravelling of several corruption scandals in the recent months that have seen its credibility and public approval take a strong hit, could hardly be that forthcoming.

Painting an intimidating image, he said that over one crore people would join him when he started his fast at the Ram Lila maidan in New Delhi, where massive arrangements, including the erection of large tents, were on to prepare for the ?satyagraha?.

?On June 4 more than 1 crore Indians will fast on day one. Crores want to see the country free from this [corruption, black money],? Ramdev said, as he examined the preparations on the Ramlila grounds here which is expected to bustle with a full capacity crowd of over 25,000 supporters.

?Till there is complete consensus, our satyagraha will go ahead as planned. Our first issue is black money and the second is corruption,? he said.