Ramdev calls PM 'Moni Baba' charges him of reading a scripted speech

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev on Wednesday reiterated his description of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh as being a ''Moni Baba'' after the latter failed to speak on the black money issue during his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the 17th century-built Red Fort.

He further added that Dr. Singh''s views reflected the views of the ruling Congress Party.

Baba Ramdev alleged that the Prime Minister's speech looked like a report of the Planning Commission, and written by the Congress Headquarters. 

"The speech given by the Prime Minister appears to be like a report of the Planning Commission. It appears as if it was a speech written by the Congress Headquarters and a written speech. He did not speak a single word on the black money issue," said Baba Ramdev.

"It is said about him that he is a 'Moni Baba'. So, on 15th August, he accepted that he is a 'Moni Baba'," he added.

Baba Ramdev said Dr. Singh did not speak on the nation''s economic freedom.

"The country has got political freedom for sure, but he did not speak on economic freedom," he said.

Baba Ramdev further accused the ruling Congress Party of spreading chaos and turbulence in the country.

"The Congress has weakened the democratic society. Congress is the one, which has spread chaos and turbulence. Congress has given Poverty, hunger, malnutrition, inflation and unemployment," he said.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day, Dr. Singh said that his government believed that the difficult problems, which India faces, can be resolved only with the cooperation of the common man. 

"It will be our endeavour that in the coming times, still more people will help us in tasks like removal of poverty, illiteracy and inequality," Dr. Singh added. 

Dr. Singh further said it is his commitment to make the work of the government and administration transparent and accountable stands.

"On the last Independence Day, I promised you that we would take many steps for this purpose. I am happy to state that during the last 1 year we have achieved good progress in this area. The Lok Sabha has cleared the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill. We hope that all political parties will help us in passing this Bill in the Rajya Sabha," he added.

Dr. Singh further informed that a number of other bills have also been presented before the Parliament.

"The Cabinet has cleared a Public Procurement Bill. We will continue our efforts to bring more transparency and accountability in the work of public servants and to reduce corruption. But we will also take care that these measures do not result in a situation in which the morale of public functionaries taking decisions in public interest gets affected because of baseless allegations and unnecessary litigation," he added.

Baba Ramdev ends fast with juice, attack on Congress and PM

Baba Ramdev and at least 2000 supporters are still seated at a stadium in Central Delhi, despite police orders to evacuate the venue, where they were brought after they were arrested yesterday for marching towards Parliament. The yoga guru has promised to disperse his camp at the "makeshift jail" today.

Here are the 10 developments in this story:

1. Though he was meant to end his six-day fast at 11 am, Baba Ramdev delivered a lengthy speech instead. He broke his fast around noon after he targeted the Congress and the Prime Minister for lacking the will to combat black money and repatriate crores of untaxed income secretly deposited abroad by Indians.
2. "Mr Prime Minister, tomorrow is Independence Day. If you don't speak about black money and corruption (in address to the nation), then you are as guilty as those who are corrupt," he said. "We could have stopped the PM from unfurling the national flag tomorrow," he warned.
3. "We will leave the stadium soon, but we are leaving because we have won, not because we have lost," the yoga icon said.  "Congress hatao, desh bachao (remove the Congress to save the country)," he declared. He also asked the crowd to remember the Congress as the most corrupt party in the country.  
4. The police urged the crowd at 11 am to exit the stadium. Thousands booed. The police said that the venue is in a high-security zone and that with Independence Day tomorrow, the police needs to make arrangements in the area. Senior cops also said buses are waiting to move the protestors out of the stadium.
5. Lawyer Ram Jethmalani shared the stage with Baba Ramdev today. Mr Jethmalani said that many cabinet ministers - and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi - have black money in bank accounts. "If you do as Baba Ramdev says, and vote out this government," he said, "I will ensure these ministers are in jail within a year."
6. The Delhi Police is treading cautiously - it wants to avoid a repeat of last year when it cracked down at midnight on a camp held by Baba Ramdev; many people were injured.
7. Sources in the police say that the yoga icon violated the terms he had agreed to when he sought permission to hold a protest camp in the capital.
8. He was arrested on Monday afternoon as he tried to lead his supporters towards parliament.  The police said he did not have permission for this march.
9. While Baba Ramdev campaigns against black money, income tax officials are scrutinizing the financial details of the Patanjali Yoga Trust and Divya Yog Mandir Trust he runs, for alleged tax evasion.
10. Politicians came out in support of Baba Ramdev yesterday, isolating the Congress. At his camp  on Monday morning, BJP president Nitin Gadkari and Sharad Yadav provided a VIP touch. Arvind Kejriwal of the recently disbanded Team Anna also showed his support. He tweeted, "We support Swami Ramdev's agitation and issues raised by him. Urge people to support his cause. But we caution him against political parties who are expressing their support. They are neck deep in corruption and their support is mere opportunism (sic)"
     
    From NDTV

I-T report to box in Baba Ramdev ready

Baba Ramdev to end fast before noon

NEW DELHI: The government is giving final touches to a two-volume report prepared by the income tax department on Baba Ramdev's trusts and ayurvedic ventures, possibly making a case for tax evasion against the yoga guru who on Monday launched an offensive against the Congress on the issue of black money.

A senior finance ministry official said the report was the outcome of an ongoing scrutiny of accounts of Ramdev's trusts which began some time ago and its completion should not be construed as vendetta for his belligerent approach towards the government.

On Monday, Ramdev called off his fast and launched an anti-Congress campaign, calling his supporters to mobilize people and oust the party in the next parliamentary polls, which he predicted would be advanced by a year.

What Congress managers had not anticipated was the support Ramdev would garner in his call for "Congress hatao desh bachao". Not only did the BJP and its ally JD(U) share the yoga guru's platform but even some of Congress allies such as Samajwadi Party and BSP came out in support, giving jitters to the UPA.

The I-T report on Ramdev, sources said, could lead to withdrawal of tax exemptions granted to his trusts, terming their activities as non-charitable and of commercial nature. Once exemption is withdrawn, Ramdev will not only be liable to pay tax but he may be slapped with punitive action akin to those initiated against tax evaders and money launderers.

The tax liability being made out against the trusts, which can always be contested by the yoga guru, is likely to be in the range of Rs 250 crore to Rs 300 crore which include interest and penalty for the six year period for which all transactions have been scrutinized, sources said.

Some of the transactions of Ramdev's ayurvedic companies and shifting of profit have been questioned in the report, sources said. The report is believed to have held his Patanjali Yogpeeth responsible for all profit making in the name of charity, and evading taxes.

The report has analyzed balance sheets of these trusts and gone into finer details such as expenditure made on chartered aircraft and earnings made from several yoga camps and donations and how they have been used. However, the government is waiting for Ramdev's response before any action is initiated.

From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Baba Ramdev to end fast at 11 am, to announce new strategy

Baba Ramdev has said he will end his hunger strike against corruption at 11 am today and promises a big announcement. "We will let you know who should be made to win the next Lok Sabha elections. The elections will bring about a major change in the country," he said after spending last night at the Ambedkar stadium, which acted as a makeshift jail, with about 5000 supporters.

Here are the 10 developments in this story:

1. Baba Ramdev has reportedly promised the Delhi Police that he will leave the Ambedkar stadium and head to Haridwar soon after he ends his six-day fast this morning. The yoga guru and about 5000 supporters defied a police request and spent the night at the stadium.
2. There were reports earlier that the Baba might refuse to budge yet as he wanted to hoist the national flag at the Ambedkar stadium tomorrow.
3. The government, sources say, has decided to just not get provoked by Baba Ramdev's moves, including the refusal so far to leave the Ambedkar stadium. They have been counting on his supporters getting tired and on the fact that access to food, water and toilets is a problem at the stadium.
4. The Delhi Police is treading cautiously. It has instructions not to let a repeat of the midnight swoop fiasco of June last year or even the botched-up Anna Hazare arrest episode of August 2011 happen.
5. The Delhi administration is nervous because the Ambedkar stadium in Central Delhi is in a high security zone of the capital and with Independence Day less than 24 hours away, the safety of the thousands of supporters who have assembled in support of Baba Ramdev has become a big concern.
6. While Baba Ramdev campaigns against black money, income tax officials are scrutinizing the financial details of the Patanjali Yoga Trust and Divya Yog Mandir Trust he runs, for alleged tax evasion.
7. Politicians came out in support of Baba Ramdev yesterday, isolating the Congress. At his camp in the morning, BJP president Nitin Gadkari and Sharad Yadav provided a VIP touch. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also lent his considerable credibility to the Baba's cause. Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati, leaders of the two major parties in Uttar Pradesh, both said the issue of black money is worth attention and scrutiny.
8. Along with the major political leaders, Arvind Kejriwal of the recently disbanded Team Anna also showed his support. He tweeted, "We support Swami Ramdev's agitation and issues raised by him. Urge people to support his cause. But we caution him against political parties who are expressing their support. They are neck deep in corruption and their support is mere opportunism (sic)"
9. Yesterday, Baba Ramdev and thousands of his supporters were detained when they tried to march to Parliament. They were brought to Ambedkar stadium; they were released by the Delhi Police at 7.50 pm, but they refused to leave stadium. "Will we go?" asked Baba Ramdev. "No," they shouted back. Baba Ramdev demanded that the government must provide food and water to everyone inside the stadium as it was a "temporary jail".
10. Last year, Baba Ramdev's camp at Ramlila Maidan was packed to capacity, when the police charged in at midnight to force the camp to disband. Many people were injured. The Supreme Court blamed both the Delhi Police and the charismatic guru for risking the safety of thousands.
    
    From NDTV