The winter air has got a needed dash of heat from the thunder and lightening accompanying the clash between telegenic Brinda Karat of the CPI(M) and tele-guru Swami Ramdev. In a fitting yogic twist to the Karat blow that was administered at Ramdev — when she accused him of peddling epilepsy and impotency drugs that contained animal bones and other parts — the Swami decided to give her a taste of her own bitter medicine. Displaying that he has meditated as much about the world of current politics as on matters spiritual, the Swami accused Ms Karat of being in league with, of all the evil people, multi-national companies. That was a low blow indeed at a committed anti-imperialist. Wonder which of the two is taking the deeper pranic breath at the moment?
That there is more to Ms Karat’s public posture of hostility towards Swami Ramdev that just his reported experimentations with animals is well-known. But little would she have thought that her fight, which started with promoting union activities — unsuccessfully — at the pharmacy in his Hardwar ashram, would reveal a unity in the spirit (of the opposition tactics) of the atheist and the religious leader. This was more than evident in the Left-handed drive that Swami Ramdev capitalised on.
Whether Ms Karat’s labour will have been lost is too early to say, but it would be surprising if she doesn’t throw an epileptic fit about being accused of courting the Enemy.