Nobody can deny importance for effective check on black money. But the way Baba Ramdev handled the issue has tended to cause harm to anti-corruption movement. First, Ramdev tried to avoid his appearance in public-rallies organised by India-Against-Corruption led by Anna Hazare and others. For instance, instead of joining anti-corruption march from Ramlila Grounds to Jantar Mantar on January 30, 2011, he preferred his own glorification by holding similar rally on February 27, 2011. Instead of waiting for outcome of June 30 deadline of Lokpal Bill being drafted, he announced his fast from June 4, 2011 giving an undesired impression of split in anti-corruption movement.
Anna Hazare always took some legal minds to talk with government-representatives. But Baba Ramdev was trapped to go alone to talk with Union Ministers at Hotel Claridges by a tricky glorification through red-carpet welcome by four senior Union ministers and Union Cabinet Secretary where he cut off his own hands by handing over letter of agreement to Union ministers. He ran away dressed as a woman leaving his innocent followers being beaten up by Delhi Police. Civil society rightly turned down to be associated with him on his unlawful announcement of creating an armed group. Now finally he could not withstand his fast-till-death even for five days when he boasted that he could live on fast at least 45 days if his demands were not met!
Subhash Chandra Agrawal
Delhi