Threatening an armed rebellion, yoga guru Ramdev on June 8 said he will raise an 11,000 force that will be trained to retaliate if authorities crackdown on their anti-corruption campaign, evoking a stern response from the Government which termed it “anti-national”. In Haridwar, Ramdev, who had struck a conciliatory tone on June 7, said he will form a force of 11,000 men and women to deal with police and anti-social elements attempting to disrupt his anti-corruption movement. “I appeal that 20 young men from every district should come here. We will train them in both shahstra (Vedas) and shastra (weapons),” Ramdev told his followers. The yoga guru said, “We will prepare 11,000 men and women so that next time we don’t lose any battle at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.” Both the government and the Congress reacted sharply to Ramdev’s move.
Home Minister P Chidambaram said, “By making that statement, he has exposed his true colours and true intentions. Let him do so and the law will deal with that… You have to observe some discipline.” “It is anti-national and we have to take action,” said V Narayanswamy, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. Congress said Ramdev’s call for an armed rebellion is a serious issue and hoped that the government will take appropriate action to uphold the Constitution and maintain law and order.