Govt rules out further talks with Ramdev

A tough-talking Government today justified Baba Ramdev's eviction from Ramlila grounds in the wee hours, accusing him of going back on his word to end the fast and pursuing his "political agenda".

A tough-talking Government on Sunday justified Baba Ramdev's eviction from Ramlila grounds in the wee hours, accusing him of going back on his word to end the fast and pursuing his "political agenda".

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Hours after 46-year-old Ramdev was bundled out to Dehradun after he was picked up by the police in a pre-dawn swoop, government also firmly ruled out any further talks with the yoga guru on the demands raised by him.

"There is nothing left to discuss (with Ramdev). On what issue we will talk. Whatever talks had to happen have already happened," Union minister Subodhkant Sahay, involved in negotiations with the yoga guru, told reporters in New Delhi.

Highly-placed government sources said the decision to remove Ramdev from the agitation site was taken at 5pm on Saturday when it became clear that he was not going to end his fast as promised by him.

Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were in the loop and the decision to act against Ramdev was with their consent, the sources said.

The decision was taken after all efforts to cajole the yoga guru failed and he refused to accept the "practical steps" advocated by the government on his demand for bringing back blackmoney, the sources said.

With the number of people swelling by the hour at the protest site, Government was also worried about the possibility of terrorists mingling in the large congregation and triggering an explosion.

Ramdev was given a final chance at around 4pm when the government sent a letter stating that actions are being taken by it on his demands against black money and corruption and wanted him to abide by his assurance of calling off the fast.