Cong Core Group discusses Ramdev threat

New Delhi, Jun 2 (PTI) Top Congress leadership, including
Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on Thursday
met here to discuss yoga guru Ramdev's proposed hunger strike
from Saturday even as back-channel efforts were underway to
persuade him not to go ahead with his protest.
As Ramdev remained adamant on undertaking the fast, the
Congress Core Group discussed ways to defuse the situation and
prevent the recurrence of events that unfolded when civil
activist Anna Hazare went on fast-unto-death in April.
Besides Gandhi and Singh, those who attended the meeting
were Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P
Chidambaram and Defence Minister A K Antony, sources said.
The meeting took place even as informal back-channel
efforts were underway between the government and those close
to Ramdev to persuade him not to go ahead with the proposed
agitation, the sources said.
Ramdev has decided to go on strike to press his demand
for strong measures to curb corruption and bring back black
money stashed abroad.
Meanwhile, Congress put up a brave face, saying the
efforts to defuse the situation should not be seen as
weakness.
"As a responsive and sensitive government, we are
engaging constructively to find real and practical solutions
in national interest. This should not be mistaken as a sign of
weakness or fear," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said.
Apparently nervous due to Ramdev's threat, the
government on Wednesday took an extraordinary step of sending
four senior ministers, including Mukherjee, to Delhi Airport
to receive Ramdev and talk to him there.