Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday accused the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of “having lost its balance” in dealing with Baba Ramdev.
Speaking in Haridwar, she said neither Prime Minister Manmohan Singh nor Congress president Sonia Gandhi had visited those injured in the police action on Ramdev and his supporters at the Ramlila ground in Delhi June 4 night. In Delhi, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said the party would lead a nationwide agitation against the government’s actions. Sushma Swaraj, who met Ramdev here, said the government first sent four ministers to meet the yoga guru on his demands relating to tackling corruption and bringing back black money and later sent 5,000 police personnel to beat him.
“The government has lost its balance,” she said. She was accompanied by Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal. Ramdev is continuing his fast at his ashram near Haridwar after being evicted from Delhi. Sushma Swaraj, who is the first senior BJP leader to meet Ramdev after he went on the fast, said the yoga guru had lost 4.5 kg since then, but his morale was high. She said the “atrocities” by police on the supporters of Ramdev had added the issue of human rights abuse to those of black money and corruption.
Sushma Swaraj, who is leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said the ministers had been claiming there were no injuries in police action whereas she had met 35 injured in hospital. “Neither the Prime Minister nor Sonia Gandhi has gone to meet the injured,” she said. Shahnawaz Hussain said in Delhi the party was concerned about Baba Ramdev’s health and a stir will be taken up across the country. “We will take it to the people.
On Wednesday the leader of Opposition went to meet Swami Ramdev in Haridwar, his condition is deteriorating, the BJP is worried,” Hussain said. He also said the government was being arrogant and if it does not rectify its approach, it will face the wrath of the people. “The government should leave its dictatorial and arrogant attitude, or it will face the wrath of the people,” he said.