Ramdev's fast a five-star satyagraha: Digvijay Singh
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India
New Delhi, June 04 2011:
Sharpening his attack on Baba Ramdev, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Saturday dubbed his indefinite fast as a "five-star satyagraha" sponsored by RSS and VHP to divert people's attention from "Sanghi terror" .
"Now it is absolutely clear as to what are the credentials of Baba Ramdev.
He is now openly supported by RSS BJP and VHP," Singh told reporters.
He alleged that this campaign by VHP and RSS "is to undo the Constitution and Parliamentary democracy by encouraging people like Baba Ramdev to go on such fast" .
Alleging that the campaign is "totally engineered by RSS and VHP to divert people's attention from Sanghi terror", Singh wondered "what kind of satyagraha is this of a baba who travels in a jet" .
"He has got five-star tents put up with all facilities.
And he is doing satyagraha on issues, which he doesn't know," Singh, who recently dubbed Baba Ramdev as being more of a businessman than a 'sanyasi', said.
"The whole satyagraha is not something what the satyagraha Mahatma Gandhi meant.
This is five-star satyagraha for which crores of Rupees have been spent in creating air conditioned pandal," he said.
Singh also took a dig at Anna Hazare who has announced plans to join Baba Ramdev in the fast tomorrow, saying, "I leave it to (his) judgement.
Anna Hazare associates himself with RSS VHP, I don't know " .
The Congress leader, who has been speaking on the issue despite a virtual gag order, said that from day one everyone knows that "soldiers" of RSS, BJP and VHP are supporting Ramdev.
"So we all know who is sponsoring this and who he is trying to propagate," Singh said.
The Congress leader also sought to project the Baba as regressive.
He said while the world is clamouring to learn English to compete in the global economy, the Baba wants medical and engineering education in regional languages "and I want to ask him where he wants to take the country" .
On the estimate of black money, he said he failed to understand who has given the figure of Rs 4 lakh crore.
"BJP leader LK Advani is saying Rs 17 lakh crore.
BJP is giving some other figure.
Tell us, who gave you this figure.
What is the original figure?," Digvijay asked.
Singh also projected the yoga guru as an ignorant man.
"Firstly Baba himself is not aware of what the issues are, what the system is, how the government functions.
I pity BJP's mind, they have also run a government.
Is it possible to resolve all points raised by Baba? I want to ask BJP's (Nitin) Gadkari" .
He said Advani can tell whether the Baba's demand to continue his hunger strike till the Rs 4 lakh crore money stashed abroad is returned was reasonable.
He also asked the Baba, who is agitating against black money, as to why he established an ashram in Mauritius, which is a known tax haven.
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