The Congress is making a last-ditch attempt to prevent Baba Ramdev from going on a fast against corruption. A likely offer could be a promise to tighten laws to prevent siphoning of money from India to tax havens abroad and more intense efforts to pursue wealth hidden abroad. The outcome of Friday's interaction is crucial to framing the government response if the guru remains unmoved.
On the criticism of a four-minister reception committee for Ramdev at Delhi airport on Wednesday, it was explained that initially two ministers were to travel to MP to meet the yoga guru. After the core group meeting, it was clarified that there are no party-government differences on the level of engagement with Ramdev.
The decision of the Hazare group to sink differences with Ramdev – who had opposed its proposals to include the prime minister and judiciary in the ambit of the Lokpal bill – spells more trouble for a beleaguered government as its attempts to reach an understanding with the influential guru failed to yield results.
There were plenty of back-channel exchanges, with Ramdev speaking to tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahay, one of the four ministers who met him on Wednesday, and agreeing to call off a press meet in view of the talks. The government worked hard to figure out how to meet Ramdev's demand for "concrete" steps on retrieving black money.
A middle path seems elusive as the guru's demands for either an "ordinance" to ensure return of black money or a timeframe are not easy to meet. With Hazare also warning Ramdev that the government will forget its words if he calls off his protest, retreating is that much more difficult.
"When I was on fast, the government agreed, but has now backed off on the Lokpal," Hazare said at his village of Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra. The re-emergence of the Gandhian can be hardly reassuring for the government that was brought to its knees by Hazare's four-day fast at Jantar Mantar in April. Government sources also rejected criticism of ministers meeting Ramdev, pointing out that by deputing Pranab Mukherjee to meet the guru, the government indicated it was serious about tackling black money. It would also demonstrate that the Centre did all it could if Ramdev is bent on forcing a confrontation.
On the criticism of a four-minister reception committee for Ramdev at Delhi airport on Wednesday, it was explained that initially two ministers were to travel to MP to meet the yoga guru. After the core group meeting, it was clarified that there are no party-government differences on the level of engagement with Ramdev.
The decision of the Hazare group to sink differences with Ramdev – who had opposed its proposals to include the prime minister and judiciary in the ambit of the Lokpal bill – spells more trouble for a beleaguered government as its attempts to reach an understanding with the influential guru failed to yield results.
There were plenty of back-channel exchanges, with Ramdev speaking to tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahay, one of the four ministers who met him on Wednesday, and agreeing to call off a press meet in view of the talks. The government worked hard to figure out how to meet Ramdev's demand for "concrete" steps on retrieving black money.
A middle path seems elusive as the guru's demands for either an "ordinance" to ensure return of black money or a timeframe are not easy to meet. With Hazare also warning Ramdev that the government will forget its words if he calls off his protest, retreating is that much more difficult.
"When I was on fast, the government agreed, but has now backed off on the Lokpal," Hazare said at his village of Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra. The re-emergence of the Gandhian can be hardly reassuring for the government that was brought to its knees by Hazare's four-day fast at Jantar Mantar in April. Government sources also rejected criticism of ministers meeting Ramdev, pointing out that by deputing Pranab Mukherjee to meet the guru, the government indicated it was serious about tackling black money. It would also demonstrate that the Centre did all it could if Ramdev is bent on forcing a confrontation.
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