Key Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal was virtually snubbed by yoga guru Baba Ramdev after the RTI activist launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over his alleged role in allocation of coal blocks. The snub appeared to reveal differences between Ramdev and Team Anna though they spoke from the same platform here Sunday.
Mr Kejriwal, in his speech attacking Dr Singh, said: “In 2006-09, when the coal ministry was under him, 155 coal blocks were allocated to private companies despite the coal secretary’s notings favouring an auction”.
Baba Ramdev then took the microphone, saying: “Today, we thought we will not take anybody’s name. But Arvind took the names. We don’t want controversies. Arvind doesn’t have enmity with anyone. We are against personal criticism.”
Apparently “hurt” by Ramdev’s remarks, Mr Kejriwal immediately left the dais.
Though Ramdev later clarified there were “no differences” with Mr Kejriwal, the visible snub overshadowed the day-long fast. Anna Hazare later defended Mr Kejriwal, saying: “Arvind just said people with cases against them are sitting in Parliament. To stop this we must use right to reject”.
Mr Kejriwal later tried to play down the issue. “I respect Swamiji, and took his and Anna’s permission to leave due to poor health,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted later. But he didn’t agree with Ramdev on not naming politicians, and said: “We have to name and shame”.
Team Anna and Ramdev earlier urged the Prime Minister to make his Cabinet “corruption-free”. “It is in your Cabinet that the 2G scam worth `1.76 lakh crores, the CWG scam and the great scam in coal happened,” Ramdev said.
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Ramdev cases: CBI, ED try to speed up work
Age Correspondent
New Delhi, June 3
While Baba Ramdev sat on a day-long fast at Jantar Mantar on Sunday, sources in Central agencies probing a slew of cases against him as well as many of his front companies over alleged irregularities said their investigations are likely to gain momentum soon.
The CBI, Enforcement Direct-orate, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and the income-tax department are part of the multi-agency probe launched against Ramdev after his Ramlila Ground protest last year.
Sources in the CBI said they were waiting for a response from Nepal where it has sent a letter rogatory seeking information on Ramdev’s key aide Balkrishna. The CBI had filed a case against Balkrishna for allegedly obtaining a passport with forged documents. It has already requested Nepal to expedite its response.