Govt-Ramdev standoff worsens; Baba in tight spot

New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) Yoga guru Baba Ramdev Saturday
began an indefinite fast against blackmoney but by the end of
the day he was in a tight corner after government released a
letter from his aide that he would call off the agitation by
mid-day.
As talks failed, the two sides blamed each other of
having gone back on their commitments and Ramdev accused the
government of "betrayal and cheating".
Union Minister Kapil Sibal's release of the letter by
Acharya Balkrishan, Ramdev's key aide, led to attack by the
Yoga Guru that government was indulging in "betrayal and
cheating" and that he would now only go by any word from Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh, whom he still respects.
The dramatic development came as Ramdev first announced
that he would be giving the "good news" of ending the
agitation but quickly went back on it after Sibal made public
the letter at a press conference also attended by another
Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay.
In a stick-and-carrot message, Sibal said that the
government has honoured all its commitments and that Ramdev
had a mis-apprehension when he questioned the setting up of a
committee on making a law to deal with blackmoney menace.
Ruling out issuing an ordinance on the issue, the
minister, who held negotiations with Ramdev Friday, made a
veiled threat that the government that has "always reached out
can also rein in".
"If we are accommodative, we can also be firm," he said
adding that negotiations cannot be taken as a sign of
weakness.Taken aback by government's aggression, Ramdev threatened
to continue his fast till his three demands -- declaring
blackmoney as national asset, enacting a law to confiscate
blackmoney along with stringent punishment and surveillance on
those visiting tax havens abroad.
Ramdev came under severe questioning by media as to why
he did not disclose since yesterday that there was an
understanding to this effect that he would call off the fast
after Government's written assurance on three of his demands.
"You kept the faithful, media and the nation in the
dark," was one of the several questions hurled at an uneasy
Ramdev who at one point conceded that the reason that he did
not announce the understanding yesterday was because people
would have left.
However, he quickly hastened to add that government
would show its "thumb" to his movement and do nothing about
his demands.
"Kapil Sibal is a liar. I will never talk to him in my
life-time," Ramdev said adding that he still reposed faith in
the Prime Minister and would go by his decision.
The sudden turn of events started with Sibal releasing
Balkrishan's letter which gave Ramdev's "consent" to call off
the agitation once the government gave a written assurance of
fulfilling his demands within a time frame.
Replying to a barrage of questions, Ramdev said the
letter was given after the ministers "pleaded" that this
letter was only meant for Prime Minister to show that his fast
was not going to be indefinite and that he was not aiming at
destabilising the government. Ramdev claimed the ministers had sought the letter as
the government had suffered a huge embarrassment after its
decision to send four senior ministers to meet him at the
airport on June 1 for discussions.
However, he did not appear convincing in his replies as
media grilled him on the letter and its non-disclosure. At one
point, he cautioned a reporter to remain within "limits" when
the scribe asked him about the funding of his agitation.
Sibal told the press conference that he talked to Ramdev
over phone to assure him that government was committed to
framing a law and the setting up of a committee is a process
towards it.
He however made it clear that there was no possibility
of issuing an ordinance in this regard.
Sibal said the government will send to Ramdev in writing
that its assurance of setting up of a committee is a
commitment towards framing of a law.
Defending the decision to make public the communication,
government sources said Ramdev was frequently changing
positions and they had to "call the bluff".
Sources said Ramdev's camp had made a commitment to
call off the strike by 4 pm and when it did not happen, then
they had to categorically tell him that they were going to
release the letter. Sources also said Ramdev was making fresh demands
everyday and many of the issues he raised later were not in
the communication sent to the government.
Ramdev told reporters that they were pressurising him
to sign the letter but he did not do so and asked the General
Secretary (Acharya Balkrishna) to do so.
"They told us that they want to show to the Prime
Minister that I have given a commitment that I will call of
the strike in two days."
The sources said they had taken the letter to convey to
the government that he had given a commitment to call-off the
strike.
Early in the morning, Ramdev started his protest with
bhajans and his signature yoga sessions before embarking on
the hunger strike.
The appearance of fire-brand sadhvi Rithambara raised
the hackles of civil society activists of Hazare camp and
Congress which alleged that RSS and VHP were fully behind the
agitation.
Hazare, who had two days ago announced that he would
join Ramdev at Ramlila Maidan tomorrow, was non-committal on
the issue today. He said he would go to Delhi on Sunday and
take a call on joining the protest.