Cong hits back at Hazare, Ramdev, BJP, launches campaign

Kolkata, June 12 : Congress today hit back at Anna Hazare and Ramdev accusing the civil society of working to undermine democracy backed by BJP which was using "unconstitutional" methods in the anti-corruption movement.

Senior Congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee also took on RSS saying it was raising the corruption issue because it had become "jittery" after the Congress accused it of having links with the Malegaon blasts.

Mukherjee while announcing Congress' plans to launch a nationwide anti-corruption campaign took on BJP, saying it was backing Hazare and Ramdev to gain support of people after it was "rejected" in the recent Assembly polls and accused the party of providing "logistic support" to their agitations and resorting to "unconstitutional practice".

"The Constitution has given the power to legislate only to Parliament and the state Assemblies. If 5,000 or 6,000 people dictate from outside what the Parliament ought to do, this will weaken democracy," he told a press conference. The campaign is seen as a bid by Congress to counter the movement by Hazare and Ramdev.

In hard hitting remarks targeting BJP, Mukherjee said, "when the parties are rejected by the people and if they want to resort to unconstitutional practice it is totally unacceptable. They are providing logistic support to all those agitations." He however did not name the party.

BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad in his response asked Mukherjee not to shift anger on BJP and RSS.

"He (Pranab) must be angry because of the stabbing he received from his own party for going to the airport. But don't shift anger on BJP and RSS," he said."In a democratic system, in a democratic society, everybody has a right to agitate on certain issues which he feels right or wrong....Those who want to dismantle the process of Constitution, Congress party will fight against them," Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee also ruled out acceding to Hazare's demand for videography of the drafting process of the Lokpal Bill, saying this was not possible in view of the fact that the drafting committee members will express their views "freely".

Their views, however, would be available on audio recording, he said.

Referring to Hazare's deadline of August 15 for passing the Lokpal Bill, Mukherjee said the Centre had suggested that the draft Lok Pal Bill would be placed during the monsoon session of the Parliament.

It was not possible, however, to give a timeframe by when the bill would be passed, he said.

"We have suggested that the Bill be tabled in Parliament during the monsoon session. But who can say when the House will pass it? The Parliament is supreme."

Asked why the government had initiated dialogue with Hazare and Ramdev, he said, "We wanted to give them a chance. If we did not talk, we would be accused of arrogance. Now that the government has talked, it is accused of being weak. Like questions are being raised as to why four ministers went to the airport to talk to Baba Ramdev and not to receive him."

Mukherjee, who circulated a note in English about his party's views on the issues, said that debates, discussions and seminars would be organised from the district to the block levels to put forth the party's views.

Karat rules out changes in party leadership

Hyderabad, June 12 : Ruling out any changes in the party leadership, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat today admitted that policy shortcomings and mistakes in the handling of Singur and Nandigram proved costly to the Left Front in the West Bengal Assembly elections.

"Notwithstanding the big achievements of the Left government, over the last three decades, there were shortcomings and weakness in some of the policies and measures adopted for the welfare of the people, the mistakes with regard to Singur and Nandigram proved costly to the party," he told reporters here.

Speaking after the conclusion of the 3-day meet of CPI(M) Politburo and Central Committee, he said "Election outcomes do not determine leadership changes in CPI(M)."

The meet assessed results of recent Assembly elections in five states with special focus on West Bengal and Kerala, where the party was in power.

He blamed the ganging up of political forces ranging from rightist forces to the Maoists behind the Trinamool Congress, for the Front's performance.

"The people voted for change," he said.

"In Kerala, the Left Democratic Front(LDF) lost narrowly, in our review the Central Committee appreciated the work of the CPI(M) and the LDF in the election campaign. The Central Committee has directed the Kerala unit to ensure various aspects of election results and take steps to further strengthen the party in Kerala," Karat said.

Karat said corrective measures will be taken to strengthen the party but did not elaborate on what they would be.

Mixed feelings among followers as Ramdev ends fast

Dehradun, June 12 : The end of Ramdev's nine-day-old fast against corruption and black money today evoked mixed feelings among hundreds of his supporters with a section of them unhappy with the yoga guru's decision.

While many of his followers supported Ramdev's decision, some were disappointed and wanted Ramdev to go ahead with his fast till the Centre accepted all his demands.

"Ramdev should have continued for some more days as he was able to successfully wake up people over the issue of corruption. I am unhappy over his decision" said Lakhan, one of his followers, who had come from Muzzaffarpur.

"I am with the yoga guru. I have come from Andhra Pradesh to pledge my support. I am slightly disappointed over his decision. But whatever it is we will support it happily," said Hyderabad-based businessman Lalit.

Ramdev, along with his confidant Balakrishna, today ended his fast heeding the appeals of various spiritual and religious leaders including Sri Sri Ravishankar.

The duo had been brought to the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences near here after Ramdev's condition worsened on the seventh day of his fast at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar on June 10.

"It is good that he has broken his fast. It is a matter of happiness for me. I will also have food now. Our fight will continue till central government accepts all his demands," said Rukmani, who had come from Motihari district in Bihar to fast with Ramdev.

Ramdev was fasting from June 4. Today was the ninth day of his protest.

"It is good that Ramdev tried to do something for the welfare of the country. But it should be the government's duty to remove corruption from our country and bring black money stashed in foreign banks," said Mukul, who runs a small eatery outside the hospital?s main gate.

The hospital compound was the centre of attraction for past three days as locals were amused and excited over the presence of a huge number of mediapersons from both print and electronic media who remained at the spot 24x7 ever since Ramdev was admitted to the hospital.

"I have never watched mediapersons so closely. It was exciting. I was getting first hand news on Ramdev," an exciting Renuka said.

Ramdev breaks fast, vows to continue campaign again corruption

Dehradun, June 12 : Yoga guru Baba Ramdev today broke his nine-day-old fast that sparked a political slugfest heeding appeals of spiritual and religious leaders but vowed to continue his campaign against corruption.

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar, who met the 46-year-old yoga exponent for the third day at a Dehradun hospital to persuade him to give up his fast said, "Ramdev has broken his fast by taking juice."

"He ended the fast in the presence of various religious and spiritual leaders", The Art of Living Founder said.

Doctors said he will be discharged from hospital in two-three days though his condition is "stable".

The Congress and the BJP welcomed Ramdev's decision to end the fast. Congress General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said it is "good news" while BJP spokesperon Ravi Shankar Prasad said the party had a "sense of satisfaction".

Ramdev, who went on a hunger strike to protest against corruption and black money issues, was admitted to the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences here on Friday after his condition deteriorated at his Patanjali Yogapeeth ashram in Haridwar.

Vijay Dhasmana, the hospital director, said, "I am thankful to everyone who came here and helped Ramdev to break his fast. His health is not such that he can be discharged today.

"It will take two-three days for him to be out of this hospital. By evening he will be shifted to a deluxe general ward. His condition is stable and he has broken his fast," he said.

The yoga exponent's close associate Balakrishna, who also ended his fast at the hospital, said, "Ramdev has considered the request of hundreds of his followers and people from the saints' fraternity".

Balakrishna said, "He (Ramdev) will take this satyagraha forward till his last breath."The protest will continue till our last breath. Ramdev wants black money to be declared as national wealth constitutionally. We appeal to all our followers and other people to break their fast as well," Balakrishna said.

Earlier in the day, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy had met Ramdev.

Asked if the battle against the government was lost, Balakrishna said, "It is not a a matter of who wins or who loses. The aim was to wake up the nation against corruption and now people have woken up and the fight will continue."

Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy said, "It is a matter of great satisfaction for the whole nation. Protests should be done in front of people who have a heart. Protests against corruption will continue. We all are with him." Swamy was present when Ramdev took the juice.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had been meeting Ramdev at the hospital to persuade him to end his hunger strike. He had come from Haridwar where he had gone to immerse the ashes of his father who died recently.

Morari Bapu, a religious leader, said, "I came to meet him and to take stock of his health. I am happy to note that he has broken the fast and taken juice. Whatever message he wanted to give has been given."

Soon after the announcement was made that Ramdev had ended his fast, a number of his supporters shouted anti-government and pro-Ramdev slogans.

"We all are happy that Ramdev has broken his fast and we all are with him to fight corruption and to bring back black money," said Rajesh Kumar, a follower who came here from Jharkhand along with 50 others.

Earlier doctors attending on him had said, "His condition is stable. Ramdev's blood pressure and pulse rate and all other parameters are the same. There was slight variation in his BP. It has tripped thrice today."

Ramdev's fast had a violent start following a post-midnight crackdown on him and his followers in Ramlila Maidan in Delhi last Sunday.