Ramdev says he wants to raise nationalist force

Haridwar, June 9 (PTI) Under attack for his proposal
to raise an armed force, Baba Ramdev Thursday said he was not
trying to train terrorists or Maoists but only wanting to set
up a "nationalist" force.
"I am not making terrorists, Naxalites and Maoists. I
am only developing a nationalist force. It is for
self-defence," Ramdev, who is continuing his fast against
corruption, told his followers at Patanjali Yogapeeth here.
He was reacting to a volley of criticism on his plans
to raise a 11,000-strong force to deal with police and
anti-social elements attempting to disrupt his anti-corruption
campaign.
"If our women are able to safeguard themselves then
nobody will dare to harm them and if our men are able then
they can defend any Ramlila ground-type attack," he said.
"My words should be taken in the right context. People
should understand what I have said.I want to train them for
self-defence. Shaastra means knowledge and shastra means
self-defence," Ramdev said, referring to his comments
yesterday that young men will be trained in both shaastra
(vedas) and shastra (weapons).
Criticising the yoga guru, Home Minister P Chidambaram
had said yesterday that "by making that statement, he (Ramdev)
has exposed his true colours and true intentions. Let him do
so and the law will deal with that..You have to observe some
discipline".
"It is anti-national and we have to take action,"
said V Narayanswamy, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's
Office.
Congress said Ramdev's call for an armed rebellion
is a serious issue and hoped that the government will take
appropriate action to uphold the Constitution and maintain law
and order.