RSS on Baba Ramdev’s ‘fast’-track; swayamsevaks to attend

New Delhi, Jun 3: While the UPA Ministers are trying every trick up their sleeve to stop Baba Ramdev from getting on with his fast against corruption, the civil society also seems to be divided on the real intentions of the Baba.

With Ramdev"s anti-corruption campaign obviously getting more eyeballs and media attention than the one flouted by Anna Hazare, it is the turn of the Sangh Parivar, especially the RSS who has jumped to the bandwagon to render their support to Ramdev"s movement.

As countdown to the fast being underway, the RSS issued a circular that has asked all the swayamsevaks to render support and be a part of Ramdev"s campaign. It also says that those who are not able to travel to Delhi can take part in the district level campaign. The circular signed by the RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi has been dispatched to the provincial organisers.

Responding to the circular, a member of the RSS's national executive, Ram Madhav commented, “The Sangh has asked its swayamsevaks to participate in and support this fight against corruption in Delhi and in the districts." The RSS proximity to the Yoga guru could worry the UPA in the long run. RSS wants to cement its relationship with Ramdev further by being part of his anti-corruption drive also keeping in mind the large number of prominent personalities that the Hazare camp was able to garner. The stalwarts in Hazare"s team included Swami Agnivesh, Mallika Sarabhai, Medha Patkar, Kiran Bedi etc…

RSS" reach within Ramdev"s circles are fabled. RSS sarsanghchalak K S Sudarshan was the chief guest during the inauguration of the Patanjali Yogpeeth founded by Baba Ramdev in 2006. Ramdev on the other hand was part of the RSS"s four-month-long Gau-Gram Yatra at Nagpur in 2010.

It was also believed that the RSS would support Ramdev"s campaigns but had expressed reservations in backing him on his political ambitions. The announcement that the Baba would float a political party has not bore fruit yet, with the Hindutva crusaders expressing doubts that the move would divide the support base.

K N Govindacharya, another key member of the RSS has been quoted as saying on Ramdev"s fast, “When elected representatives fail to act as custodians of the people"s trust, society won"t sit idle... we need an opposition to corruption outside of the arena of power politics".

OneIndia News