Govt's efforts fail; Ramdev to go ahead with his fast

New Delhi, Jun 3 (PTI) A desperate Indian government's
efforts failed Friday to achieve any breakthrough with Baba
Ramdev deciding to go ahead with his indefinite fast here from
tomorrow amidst indications that a compromise was likely in a
day or two.
For nearly five hours, two senior union ministers
Kapil Sibal and Subodh Kant Sahay negotiated with the yoga
guru over his demands on eradication of corruption at a posh
hotel, a venue totally different from Delhi airport where two
days ago these two ministers with two others had attempted to
placate him.
After the talks, Sibal said "we had constructive
dialogue on several issues and the government has addressed
all the issues Baba has raised in writing. Most of these
issues are of national concern and the government is already
seized of many of them".
However, immediately thereafter, Baba Ramdev went to
the Ramlila Maidan, venue of his indefinite fast, where he
told a congregation that government has agreed to most of his
demands.
He said, however, that he will go ahead with the fast
till all his demands are met completely.
In a late night release, the cabinet secretariat
disclosed its issue-wise response to Ramdev's demands
including its willingness to substantially increase the
maximum punishment for corruption without defining what that
would be.
The government also said confiscation of ill-gotten
wealth could be considered and that it was open to the idea of
more special courts to speed up the trial of corruption cases.
"Our agitation is not against any political party or
individual. We are neutral, not being sponsored by any party
or organisation and people from all castes and religion are
joining us. We appeal to all parties to join us," he said.
Various organizations, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad
and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), have also
decided to join the agitation and sit on fast with Baba
Ramdev.
While Congress said it was against the politics of
blackmail, it refrained from any comment on yoga guru Baba
Ramdev's plans to start his fast. "I am not saying about
Jantar Mantar (fast by Anna Hazare in April) nor about Ramdev
but by definition itself politics of blackmail is not proper",
party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.
Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh
alleged Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was "completely
behind Ramdev's agitation" and said if Baba was so keen to do
politics, he should join the fray.