Mumbai bats for Baba Ramdev, slams govt action

After the Delhi Police broke Baba Ramdev’s protest at Ramlila ground on Saturday night, his Mumbai supporters sitting at Azad Maidan, too, disbanded. They were confused whether the prohibitory orders in Delhi were in force in Mumbai as well.

“We will continue our agitation but only after making sure we can sit in protest,” said Pramodbhai Shah of the Patanjali Yoga Samiti.

But members of the civil society who had backed Ramdev’s campaign slammed the government over allegations that protesters were beaten by the police. The government was accused of acting in a barbaric way and deviating attention from the proposed Jan Lokpal Bill.

“Had the agitation for investigations into black money and the demand for a law against black money continued, it would have ruined several powerful politicians. Their achievement is that the most dangerous issues got sidetracked with this issue of law and order,” said YP Singh, lawyer and activist.

People who are associated with the movement are likely to come out with a statement later after studying social activist Anna Hazare’s meeting. “We may just withdraw from the talks. But a more concrete decision will be taken after the meeting,” said Mayank Gandhi, one of the Mumbai coordinators of the group India Against Corruption.

Praful Vora, another Mumbai coordinator of IAC, said, “No sane Indian can back what the government has done. It is encouraging insecurity among people and inciting them. The behaviour does not suit a country seeking UN Security Council seat.”