No Breakthrough In Talks, Ramdev To Go Ahead With Fast

NEW DELHI: After a five-hour marathon meeting, the government and Baba Ramdev on Friday failed to reach a compromise on the demands raised by the yoga guru, who said he will launch his indefinite fast on Saturday as planned.

Emerging from the meeting at a hotel here, HRD minister Kapil Sibal said the two sides had constructive dialogue on several matters and they are very happy with the progress but these issues cannot be resolved in a day.

"We have yet not reached a compromise and I will sit on fast (from tomorrow)," Ramdev said after his meeting with Sibal and and Subodh Kant Sahai.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also briefed President Pratibha Patil on the deliberations. During the 40 minute meeting, Singh briefed the President about his recent visit to Ethiopia and Tanzania and also about the "ongoing dialogue with Baba Ramdev", a Rashtrapati Bhavan release said.

Sibal said the government has responded positively to the Baba's suggestions and hoped that Ramdev will do "what is right".

However, he refused to confirm or deny whether the yoga guru will go on his fast on issues of corruption and black money.

"We had constructive dialogue on several issues and the government has addressed all the issues Baba has raised in writing. Most of these issues are of national concern and the government is already seized of many of them," Sibal said.

The marathon meeting between Congress ministers Kapil Sibal and Subodh Kant Sahay, from government side, and Ramdev discussed various demands raised by the yoga guru, who had threatened to go on an indefinite satayagraha from Saturday against corruption and black money.

Before the crucial talks with Ramdev, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, home minister P Chidambaram and some of their colleagues went into a huddle to prepare a draft for the meeting.

Making all-out efforts to placate the yoga guru, the government made senior ministers stay put in the capital. Hectic back-channel efforts he been on for the last two days to placate Ramdev, who has raised issues of black money and corruption, as the government is keen to avert an Anna Hazare-like protest on the streets.

While Mukherjee scrapped his plan to visit Kolkata, law minister Veerappa Moily ended up cancelling his scheduled trip to Mangalore apparently for the same reason.

The meeting between Sibal, Sahay and Ramdev came after the Baba's address to his supporters where he indicated a softening of his stance.

"...Barring one or two issues, a consensus seems to be emerging between us and the government," said the yoga guru, who had held his first round of talks with senior ministers, including Mukherjee, who had met him at the airport after his arrival here on June 1.

Addressing a gathering of more than 5000 people who poured in here to join him in his satyagraha against corruption from tomorrow, Ramdev said his movement is being undertaken in "national interest" and is not sponsored by any political party.

"Our agitation is not against any political party or individual. We are neutral, not being sponsored by any party or organisation and people from all castes and religion are joining us. We appeal to all parties to join us. We are erecting a special stage where representatives from all parties can come to put forth their point of view," he said.

Flanked by leaders of various religions, he also tried to deflect criticism that he is crossing the tenets of Yoga by taking up issue of corruption. "I am not crossing the limits of Yoga. Not lying and stealing is also part of yoga and I am trying to bring those who have crossed that limit back within the limit."

In an apparent reference to suggestions that his movement is aimed at undermining Gandhian Anna Hazare's agitation on the same issue, Ramdev said, "We do not want to show anyone as inferior or defeat anybody."

Ramdev claimed his movement was aimed at bringing back the Rs 400 lakh crore black money stashed overseas and change the corrupt system. "Not all politicians, businessmen and officers are corrupt but those who are corrupt among them have created a black empire by looting people's money. Some people have hijacked democracy and turned it into a corrupt system."

Claiming that there are many corrupt people like "Hasan Ali and A Raja" in the country, he said "Ravan of corruption will be killed in Ramleela Maidan" and maintained that there will "Satyagraha against corruption in 624 villages" across the country from tomorrow.

The fight against corruption will not be easy as those who benefit from graft are powerful, he said, adding "I am ready to fast for not only three days but for 30 days as we are doing it for the starving people in the country," he said.

He demanded a public service delivery act under which government officials have to respond to any issue brought by common man within a time-frame, failing which they will be fined and suspension will be given to repeat offenders.

Apparently targeting his critics, Ramdev said, "Those on constitutional posts must have failed to some extent so that we are being forced to take up these issues."

He said there should be fast-track courts to try graft cases and those who have looted crores via corrupt practices should be given life term or death sentence.