With Yoga gurualt39s highly- publicised fast getting a huge response, both the government and the Anna camp appear to be worried
INDER SAWHNEY New Delhi As was being expected, the last- ditch effort made by the government on Fr
iday to appease Baba Ramdev failed to yield desired results. Ramdev did not budge from his decision as the governmentalt39s trouble- shooters did not succeed in convincing him.
Rather, indications were that after succumbing to the pressure of the civil rights group led by Gandhian activist, Anna Hazare, on the Lokpal Bill, the government is all set to lose the initiative on black money to Yoga guru, Baba Ramdev.
Meanwhile, with Ramdevalt39s highly- publicised indefinite fast receiving a huge response, not only the government but also the Anna camp appears to be worried.
The Anna camp which is already reeling under the governmentalt39s refusal to accept its condition of bringing the Prime Minister and the judiciary under Lokpalalt39s ambit, fears that the Yoga gurualt39s crusade against corruption and black money might overshadow its campaign.
Even though both Anna and Ramdev have jointed hands and are supporting each other, impartial observers see the difference between their movements. In fact, they are watching as to who emerges as a bigger leader. Ramdevalt39s appeal, they say, covers a wider canvas of middle class and farmers while Anna has little influence over farmers.
Rather, what goes against him is that he comes from a place in Maharashtra which has witnessed a large number of farmersalt39 suicides.
Again, though Anna has extended support to Ramdevalt39s movement, he and followers will join Ramdevalt39s rally for just one day. The reasons for expending support to Ramdev, they say, are obvious – the deadlock in the joint panel and growing response to Ramdevalt39s movement.
An undercurrent of the ” rift” between the two leaders can also be gauged by the fact that Anna has publicly said that he is upset over the royal treatment meted out to Ramdev. He has dubbed the exercise of sending four ministers, including Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, to the airport as a ” fraud.” Anna has even tried to caution Ramdev that the government might bow to his demands under pressure now, but then, it will back out later, as it had done in their case.
