With the government toughening its stand, yoga guru Baba Ramdev has said he has forgiven Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the crackdown on his agitation, but history will not pardon him.
On Tuesday, Ramdev said: “The PM termed it (the police action) unfortunate. In a way he has accepted his sin. I have forgiven him, but history will never forgive him. He has tainted democracy.”
He was reacting to Singh’s Monday’s remark, that it was “unfortunate that the operation had to be conducted but honestly, there was no alternative”.
His supporters, Ramdev said, would risk arrest to join activist Anna Hazare in his proposed fast from Wednesday in New Delhi. “I extended full support to Anna,” he said.
Ramdev also attacked the Congress for ridiculing his escape in a woman’s dress from the Ramlila ground, saying even Maratha warrior Shivaji had resorted to disguise to secure the nation.
Aide comes back
After three days’ disappearance, Ramdev’s second-in-command Acharya Balakrishna, meanwhile, surfaced at Haridwar’s Patanjali Yogpeeth on Tuesday. Denying that he had gone underground to avoid police action, he said, “I did not want to leave New Delhi since hundreds of workers were injured”.
{{/usCountry}}After three days’ disappearance, Ramdev’s second-in-command Acharya Balakrishna, meanwhile, surfaced at Haridwar’s Patanjali Yogpeeth on Tuesday. Denying that he had gone underground to avoid police action, he said, “I did not want to leave New Delhi since hundreds of workers were injured”.
{{/usCountry}}HTC, haridwar