New Delhi:
BJP leader Sushma Swaraj travelled to Haridwar today to meet Baba Ramdev whose hunger fast against corruption has entered its fourth day.
"He is weak and has lost 7.5 kilos but his spirit, his mental strength is stronger than ever. Corruption and black money have been a problem for the nation for a while. But what happened at Ramlila Maidan to the Baba's camp has become a whole new issue," Mrs. Swaraj said to reporters.
Late on Saturday night, the Delhi Police followed government orders to end the yoga icon's camp at the capital's Ramlila Maidan. The Baba was arrested, and then evicted. 65,000 of his supporters who had gathered for his hunger strike against corruption found themselves being tear-gassed and lathi-charged.
Mrs. Swaraj repeated her party line - that the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi owe the country an explanation. "I am surprised that the Prime Minister said that 'What happened was unfortunate but there was no alternative. It was unavoidable'," said Mrs Swaraj. "I want to ask him why neither Sonia Gandhi nor he has visited those injured. His ministers said nobody was injured. I met 35 people in hospital of whom 4 were in critical condition. One, Rajbala, will remain paralysed for life," she added.
The government spent the first half of last week trying its best to persuade Baba Ramdev that it would work with him on his charter of demands if he called off his fast. The Baba wants black money to be recovered from foreign accounts; he suggests it then be confiscated and declared a national asset. When the Baba arrived in Delhi last week, four senior ministers received him at the airport - a gesture that was described by the government's critics as obsequious. On Saturday evening, the government and the Baba called off their truce. The yoga teacher said his fast would continue. The government authorised the police to break up his camp.
"When the government wanted to negotiate with the Baba, they sent four ministers. When they turned against him, they sent hundreds of policemen," Mrs. Swaraj said. She however avoided commenting on today's controversial remarks by the Baba - he has declared that he will put together an army of 11,000 men and women who will be trained to fight back if action is taken against them.