Baba Ramdev
The Government of India has nearly called the bluff of Baba Ramdev and his satyagrapha.
We saw the satyagrahi running away, wearing a woman’s attire and trying to escape from the police. Obviously, the five-star satyagrahi could bear a mild assault by the police. His followers too did not have the courage to stand their ground against police.
Satyagraha is the tool of fearless. Gandhiji had often stressed the importance of fearlessness in the struggle against the British. Could one think of Mahatama Gandhi, on a satyagraha, running away from the British police? Or his trying to hide? Would he and his followers have shifted the satyagrapha venue even if they were in small numbers?
But a posse of Delhi police could drive away a 50000-strong crowd and Ramdev. This suggests that there were somebody behind pushing Ramdev to the show. He himself would not have volunteered for the show but for the pressure. That is because he is apparently not a courageous person.
It is also clear that those who need the comforts of air-conditioners cannot withstand the rigours of a fight against corruptionnd black money. The government correctly assessed that the agitation could not grow beyond the comforts of air cooled pandals or ashramam. Also, watch the Baba trying to win the protection of Mayavati, who herself had been accused of corruption, for continuing the satyagraha at Noida. That much for the fight against corruption!
This is not to say that the Congress had not been badly mauled. The Congress has no shields against the allegations of corruption faced by Ministers of the UPA government. The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is seen as shielding or incapable of taking action against corrupt ministers. There is nagging doubts among public that UPA leaders too are among those who had slashed money abroad. Whether the Baba is effective or not in his fight against corruption and black money, it would be an uphill, if not impossible, task for the Congress to cleanse itself.
I don’t think Baba Ramdev’s fight against corruption is genuine. I heard he is planning to start a new party, and for that he is seeking publicity. And, I don’t understand why media and some political parties are throwing their support behind this guy, despite knowing everything.
Like you said, a true ‘Leader’ shouldn’t be running away in the face of trouble, and that too in a ladies’ dress !!
Good post. Enjoyed Reading.
1. Ramdev had announced two years ago, about forming a Party.
2. Ramdev says that they threatened to kill him after starting a freak shooting and blaming it on terrorists. It is a plausible story; his mingling among the followers cross-dressed might have been after this. The government’s receiving him like a hero at first, and then saying he is a mere fraud do not appear to be very honest. Something is fishy.
3. We need not expect anyone to be an iron-man in ideology in these days of indulgence. Everyone has a lot to lose, one way or the other.
4. Globalisation wants governments to fade away, to be replaced by business interests. Even our RTI, which clipped unbridled bureaucratic acts, happened under World Bank pressure, as part of their Country Program for the 5 years during which it was enacted.
5. Anti-corruption laws would rein in administrations further, and make things easier for business.
6. An Anna Hazare or Ramdev minus publicity and the money, would not get noticed.
7. These are beginnings, however flawed. Let us not dismiss them offhand in total cynicism. After all, can anything beat the 2G? In any other country, there might have been a civil war against such!
Interesting Take..!!!