Gadkari backs Ramdev movement

Full cooperation: Sonia should rise above party politics, says BJP chief

A day after Congress alleged that the campaigns launched by both Baba Ramdev and Team Anna had a pro-BJP bias, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday announced its support to the yoga guru’s movement demanding that the government bring back black money stashed in foreign banks.

The BJP’s decision came after Ramdev called on party chief Nitin Gadkari at his residence here and solicited support to his campaign. Gadkari instantly touched the yoga guru’s feet and sought his blessings, before taking him inside and holding a meeting with him.

“Our party is fully with his (Ramdev’s) campaign, which is not of any political party. And the BJP believes that concern for the common people should be above politics for gaining power,” Gadkari said, interacting with mediapersons later.

He also made an appeal to other political parties to join the movement and sign Ramdev’s letter of support. “The fight against black money is not a political agitation but a national movement. We will support anybody who takes up this fight. Just as Mahatma Gandhi had told the British to go back, Ramdev is demanding that the black money be brought back (from foreign shores),” he said.

The BJP president also attacked his Congress counterpart Sonia Gandhi for her veiled attack on the Opposition and civil society. At the Congress Working Committee meeting here, Gandhi said baseless charges were being levelled against the prime minister, the UPA government and the Congress party as part of a conspiracy. “Sonia Gandhi’s allegations against Ramdev are baseless. Is it anti-national to demand that Indian black money be brought back for the country’s good? She should rise above party politics and work to save and free the country from price rise, poverty and hunger,” Gadkari said.

Both Gadkari and Ramdev appealed to Gandhi to take the black money issue seriously as it would help  solve the financial woes of the country. “Sonia Gandhi should cooperate in promoting the fight against corruption," Gadkari said.

Ramdev rejected the allegations that his campaign was political. He said he had reached out to all the parties, including the Congress, seeking their support. “I have written to Sonia Gandhi too, and sought an appointment,” the yoga guru said.