Ramdev says history will not forgive PM for 'political sin'

Haridwar, June 7: With the government toughening its stand against Baba Ramdev, the yoga guru on Tuesday said he forgave the Prime Minister for the crackdown on his agitation but history will not forgive him for the "political sin" he committed.

"The Prime Minister termed it (the police action) unfortunate. In a way he has accepted his sin. Since he has accepted his sin, I have forgiven him," Baba Ramdev told reporters here.

"I have personally forgiven him but the history of not only India but the whole world will never forgive him for the political sin he committed. He has tainted democracy," Baba Ramdev, who is continuing his satyagraha here, said.

The yoga guru was reacting to Manmohan Singh's remarks on Monday that "it was unfortunate that the operation had to be conducted but quite honestly, there was no alternative."

Baba Ramdev also attacked the Congress for ridiculing his escape in a women's dress from the ground, saying even Maratha warrior Shivaji had escaped in disguise to secure the nation.

"If anybody saves his life for securing the nation, they won't like it. Even Shivaji had saved his life. But these people do not accept Shivaji as their ideal. Their target is to protect terrorists and kill Baba."

Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi had on MOnday said, "A satyagrahi does not run away stealthily wearing women's dress. Satyagrahi is always ready to sacrifice his life."

Baba Ramdev also alleged there could be "five kinds of conspiracies" to eliminate him at the Ramlila ground from where he was evicted after his talks with the Government to end the fast failed.

The yoga guru said that he suspects that the police would now edit the recordings made by the CCTV cameras installed at the ground in a bid to wipe out the evidence so that they escape action.

"We had put CCTV cameras in the camp, which recorded the events. If the police had not done anything wrong, why did they took away the footages forcibly. This is clear cut goondaism of the police," he added.

"Our workers who had gone there have been embroiled in false cases under a conspiracy. The police will now edit the footage and then release after deleting portions so that no action follows against them," Baba Ramdev said.

Baba Ramdev said there could be conspiracies to kill him by strangulating, burning the stage on which he was sitting and shooting him.

He said the government's argument that there was a threat of terrorist attack on him could be the fifth conspiracy to eliminate him and alleged that an e-mail has been "manufactured" by the government to make it convincing.

PTI