Black money: Congress mum on Ramdev's proposed agitation

Congress today maintained an enigmatic silence over Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's proposed agitation on the blackmoney issue from June 4 and the government's decision to persuade him to postpone his protest.

"We have to nothing to say on Baba Ramdev," was the only refrain of party spokesperson Manish Tewari to a volley of questions on the issue.

Tewari also refused to answer questions like whether the government has gone in an overdrive to tackle the Ramdev issue.

He also declined to answer whether there was any particular reason for the party not commenting on Ramdev's agitation.

The party's reaction to Ramdev's agitation is in stark contrast to its earlier response when Anna Hazare had sat on a fast-unto-death last month with even party president Sonia Gandhi appealing to him to withdraw his fast.

Tewari also evaded a direct reply to the question whether Congress endorses the government's opposition to the demand for bringing the prime minister and the chief justice of India (CJI) under the ambit of the Lokpal.

He said senior ministers of the government, who are also Congress leaders, are members of the joint committee to prepare the draft for Lokpal Bill and the party will say what ever it has to say on that legislation through its ministers.

Incidentaly, Baba Ramdev today also opposed the inclusion of prime minister and the CJI in the ambit of Lokpal Bill saying the two top posts are "highly dignified" and should not come under the ambit of the Lokpal Bill.