Just as the face-off between the government and Baba Ramdev inched towards a resolution, negotiations hit a bump with the yoga guru alleging betrayal by government negotiators and the Centre warning that it could take tough measures.
The vibes between the two sides soured dramatically dealing a blow to the prospect of an early resolution, although a fresh effort for conciliation was afoot with the government sending to the yoga guru a commitment in writing that it would soon bring a law aimed at declaring ill-gotten wealth to be national asset, and providing for its confiscation as well as harsher punishment for the corrupt.
In turn, it expects the Baba to call off his protest on Sunday. Ramdev, however, said he would announce his next course of action only after "I hear from the PM."
The government's expectation of a Ramdev announcement by mid-day that he would end his fast by June 6 after being assured on his demands did not fructify. This led telecom minister Kapil Sibal to reveal Baba's handwritten commitment to end his protest in two days. As per the letter given to the government on behalf of Ramdev, he was to turn the fast into a meditation session before winding up on Monday.
However, Ramdev did not comply because of what he termed a lack of clear commitment to promulgate an anti-black money law. According to government sources, he started shifting the goalposts, making the government suspect that he wanted to drag on the protest. This prompted Sibal to make public the letter.
Sibal's dramatic gesture of waving a small sheet of paper with assurances written on Ramdev's behalf was prompted by what government saw as Ramdev's intransigence. But if it was meant to nudge Ramdev into announcing an end to his fast, it failed to do so, with the guru immediately raising the bar and screaming bad faith. Intriguingly, the telecom minister made public Baba's letter just when the latter appeared to be verging on announcing "victory".
With media confronting him on the letter revealed by Sibal, Ramdev vehemently denied a covert deal or that his was a "fixed" fast. He said that the Sibal and his Cabinet colleague Subodh Kant Sahay had requested him for the letter saying that it would help them deal with the allegation that the government had surrendered to the Baba. He warned his supporters to stay put in case he was arrested and made it clear that a written assurance is a must.
Ramdev said he would never speak to Sibal again and said he will announce his next course of action after "I hear from the PM." Before that, Sibal had also talked tough. "No government has reached out as much as ours. But if we can reach out we can also rein in. This government believes in resolving issues not in exacerbating them. But If we can be accommodative , we can also be firm", said Sibal, adding that its accommodation should not be read as a sign of weakness.
This has some clear implications. The government may have to change its negotiators. Also, the assurance from the government has to be more specific, given Baba's need for something that he can show off as his accomplishment.
Congress circles were intrigued by the sudden escalation of tension just when a resolution appeared to be at hand. Some in the party felt that Ramdev was on the verge of announcing a "successful end" to his fast , and felt that that the press conference which Sibal and Sahay addressed should have been delayed till after Baba had finished his remarks at Ramlila Maidan.
Although delayed, a settlement remained in sight. Subodh Kant Sahay confirmed that the government's commitment to the law on black money would reach Ramdev on Saturday night itself.
According to sources, the letter says, "This is to clarify that the government is committed to a legal structure that will turn ill-gotten wealth into national asset. Such assets would be confiscated and the law would also provide for exemplary punishment for those with ill-gotten wealth. This clearly declares the government's commitment. .. You have publicly stated that upon receiving the letter of commitment you would end your "tap" (meditation). Hope you will honour your commitment".
The government, as it battles the backwash of scams ranging from the Commonwealth games, Adarsh housing society and 2G telecom cases, needs an early closure. Ramdev will also have trouble sustaining his show indefinitely in the torrid weather, especially after Sibal's success in sowing doubts about his resolve. Government sources are already deriving satisfaction from the fact that the turnout at Ramlila Maidan, although bigger than what Anna Hazare could manage at Jantar Mantar, is below the expectations of the organizers.
In a conversation with Ramdev just minutes before he was to brief the media along with tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahay, Sibal told the guru the government was prepared to submit in writing that a committee would indeed lead to a law. He told Ramdev that an ordinance was not possible. "The meaning of the committee is that a law will follow," said Sibal.
The upturn in tensions led to Sibal hurrying to meet finance minister Pranab Mukherjee to draft the clarification sought by Ramdev on the government's willingness to draft a stringent law on black money. This can see the Baba's fast prolonging as the two sides need to rework the fragile trust between them.
The government is taking the Baba's challenge seriously and although Sibal suggested tougher measures in case Ramdev did not come around, harsh action might not be easy to contemplate. The government cannot afford to be seen on the wrong side of the war against corruption and the Baba's act has certainly struck a chord.
The meeting of the cabinet committee on political affairs held a couple of days back had in fact deliberated in such scenarios with the majority opinion expressing the apprehension that events might prove hard to manage once Ramdev begins his fast.
However, as events proved, the government was not able to persuade the guru from abandoning his fast and the nitty-gritty of his demands are proving hard to meet. It will need another round or two of high pressure diplomacy, perhaps much more discreet than has been the case so far, to resolve the confrontation.
The vibes between the two sides soured dramatically dealing a blow to the prospect of an early resolution, although a fresh effort for conciliation was afoot with the government sending to the yoga guru a commitment in writing that it would soon bring a law aimed at declaring ill-gotten wealth to be national asset, and providing for its confiscation as well as harsher punishment for the corrupt.
In turn, it expects the Baba to call off his protest on Sunday. Ramdev, however, said he would announce his next course of action only after "I hear from the PM."
The government's expectation of a Ramdev announcement by mid-day that he would end his fast by June 6 after being assured on his demands did not fructify. This led telecom minister Kapil Sibal to reveal Baba's handwritten commitment to end his protest in two days. As per the letter given to the government on behalf of Ramdev, he was to turn the fast into a meditation session before winding up on Monday.
However, Ramdev did not comply because of what he termed a lack of clear commitment to promulgate an anti-black money law. According to government sources, he started shifting the goalposts, making the government suspect that he wanted to drag on the protest. This prompted Sibal to make public the letter.
Sibal's dramatic gesture of waving a small sheet of paper with assurances written on Ramdev's behalf was prompted by what government saw as Ramdev's intransigence. But if it was meant to nudge Ramdev into announcing an end to his fast, it failed to do so, with the guru immediately raising the bar and screaming bad faith. Intriguingly, the telecom minister made public Baba's letter just when the latter appeared to be verging on announcing "victory".
With media confronting him on the letter revealed by Sibal, Ramdev vehemently denied a covert deal or that his was a "fixed" fast. He said that the Sibal and his Cabinet colleague Subodh Kant Sahay had requested him for the letter saying that it would help them deal with the allegation that the government had surrendered to the Baba. He warned his supporters to stay put in case he was arrested and made it clear that a written assurance is a must.
Ramdev said he would never speak to Sibal again and said he will announce his next course of action after "I hear from the PM." Before that, Sibal had also talked tough. "No government has reached out as much as ours. But if we can reach out we can also rein in. This government believes in resolving issues not in exacerbating them. But If we can be accommodative , we can also be firm", said Sibal, adding that its accommodation should not be read as a sign of weakness.
This has some clear implications. The government may have to change its negotiators. Also, the assurance from the government has to be more specific, given Baba's need for something that he can show off as his accomplishment.
Congress circles were intrigued by the sudden escalation of tension just when a resolution appeared to be at hand. Some in the party felt that Ramdev was on the verge of announcing a "successful end" to his fast , and felt that that the press conference which Sibal and Sahay addressed should have been delayed till after Baba had finished his remarks at Ramlila Maidan.
Although delayed, a settlement remained in sight. Subodh Kant Sahay confirmed that the government's commitment to the law on black money would reach Ramdev on Saturday night itself.
According to sources, the letter says, "This is to clarify that the government is committed to a legal structure that will turn ill-gotten wealth into national asset. Such assets would be confiscated and the law would also provide for exemplary punishment for those with ill-gotten wealth. This clearly declares the government's commitment. .. You have publicly stated that upon receiving the letter of commitment you would end your "tap" (meditation). Hope you will honour your commitment".
The government, as it battles the backwash of scams ranging from the Commonwealth games, Adarsh housing society and 2G telecom cases, needs an early closure. Ramdev will also have trouble sustaining his show indefinitely in the torrid weather, especially after Sibal's success in sowing doubts about his resolve. Government sources are already deriving satisfaction from the fact that the turnout at Ramlila Maidan, although bigger than what Anna Hazare could manage at Jantar Mantar, is below the expectations of the organizers.
In a conversation with Ramdev just minutes before he was to brief the media along with tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahay, Sibal told the guru the government was prepared to submit in writing that a committee would indeed lead to a law. He told Ramdev that an ordinance was not possible. "The meaning of the committee is that a law will follow," said Sibal.
The upturn in tensions led to Sibal hurrying to meet finance minister Pranab Mukherjee to draft the clarification sought by Ramdev on the government's willingness to draft a stringent law on black money. This can see the Baba's fast prolonging as the two sides need to rework the fragile trust between them.
The government is taking the Baba's challenge seriously and although Sibal suggested tougher measures in case Ramdev did not come around, harsh action might not be easy to contemplate. The government cannot afford to be seen on the wrong side of the war against corruption and the Baba's act has certainly struck a chord.
The meeting of the cabinet committee on political affairs held a couple of days back had in fact deliberated in such scenarios with the majority opinion expressing the apprehension that events might prove hard to manage once Ramdev begins his fast.
However, as events proved, the government was not able to persuade the guru from abandoning his fast and the nitty-gritty of his demands are proving hard to meet. It will need another round or two of high pressure diplomacy, perhaps much more discreet than has been the case so far, to resolve the confrontation.
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