The government on Thursday made a desperate bid to woo yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who proposes to go on a fast-unto-death from June 4, on Wednesday. It dispatched no less than four Union ministers, led by Mr Pranab Mukherjee, to welcome Baba Ramdev at the airport.
Besides Mr Mukherjee, Mr Kapil Sibal, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal and Mr Subodh Kant Sahay, Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar was also present at the airport. They held a two-and-half-hour discussion with Baba Ramdev at the airport itself to persuade him not to proceed with his plan as the issues raised by him are actively under the government’s consideration.
Baba Ramdev, however, refused to budge as he declared that though the government prima facie appeared to be “positive and constructive” on the issues he raised in the meeting, his plan to go on a fast-unto-death stands till all his demands are met.
The yoga guru, who on Wednesday morning at Ujjain did a volte face on Tuesday’s remarks that the Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India should be kept out of the Lokpal’s ambit, told reporters that the first round of talks had been positive and there would be further dialogue with the government. “I did not say that the proposed Lokpal Bill should not cover the Prime Minister and CJI as their posts are highly dignified,” he told reporters in Ujjain after ending his 1-lakh-km Bharat Swabhiman Yatra. “We will not be satisfied with dialogues or assurances. There should be evidence about bringing back black money from tax havens. On June 4 there will be a satyagraha (protest fast) in Ramlila Maidan as well as in 624 districts across India as crores of people want the country to be rid of black money and corruption and are demanding a change in the system,” the yoga guru said.
To a question on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s appeal to him not to go ahead with his fast, Baba Ramdev said he did not believe in fear or creating fear and had raised issues of national interest. “This fight is not against any person and any party. So we are not criticising anybody. Till there is 100 per cent agreement I will not go back on my decision to fast,” he asserted.
The government a dialogue with Baba Ramdev would continue in the next couple of days. “He (Ramdev) raised important issues which impact on the future of our country. They are significant national issues. They are not limited to one or two issues. We prima facie responded to them,” Mr Sibal said after the meeting. “We are running a responsive government. We will take all the issues forward... These are serious issues. Government will not only consider seriously but take action on them,” the minister said but declined to provide the details of the discussions.
Later on Wednesday evening the Prime Minister held a meeting with his senior Cabinet colleagues, including those who met Baba Ramdev earlier in the day. The ministers briefed Dr Singh on their discussions at his 7, Race Course Road residence.
There were also indications on Wednesday evening that the Congress core group may meet on Thursday to discuss the proposed fast by Baba Ramdev and how to defuse the situation. The core group is expected to take the final call on this issue, which appears to have put the government in a spot for now.
Union home minister P. Chidambaram said the next round of talks with the yoga guru would take place on June 3. “I am told that they have agreed to meet again on June 3 to continue the discussions and I will advise everyone to observe restraint,” he said.
AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh said, “We are also interested in the issue of corruption and black money but hungerstrikes won’t check corruption or help bring back black money. He (Baba Ramdev) should agree to the request made by the Prime Minister and other ministers.”
Meanwhile, giving a new twist to the alleged stalemate in the Lokpal Bill joint drafting committee, panel co-chairman Shanti Bhushan wrote to Mr Mukherjee, who is the chairman of the committee, inviting him to participate in a national public debate on the six issues on which the government has sought the opinion of chief ministers and leaders of political parties.
“We are organising a national public debate on the six issues. The debate is likely to be telecast live by many national and regional channels. All the civil society members will be present at the debate. It would be useful if the government nominees of the drafting committee could also join the debate,” Mr Bhushan said in the letter. Moreover, refusing to comment on any difference of opinion with Baba Ramdev, Anna Hazare said, “Baba’s hungerstrike has all my support.”