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There also is a section which remains apprehensive that the movement could be ‘hijacked’ by crafty politicians.
While a large section of the business class, hindu religious leaders and social activists support Ramdev’s agitation, members of the minority community and a small section of the intellectuals feel that the yoga guru had pushed the government a bit too far and also that he had been acting as ‘representative’ of a political party.
The saffron outfits like Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Shiv Sena, Bharat Raksha Dal, Gayatri Parivar, Bharat Swabhiman Trust along with the BJP have been in the forefront in taking out protest marches and condemning the action on Ramdev, while the activists of Anna Hazare’s India Against Corruption were in lesser numbers.
There is, however, near unanimity in peoples’ anger against the police action on Ramdev’s followers at midnight at Ramlila ground in Delhi.
“It is our constitutional right to hold satyagraha...the action of the government was utterly irresponsible and immature and it should be condemned in the strongest possible manner,” Jitendra Mittal, a well known artist, quipped.
Similar views were aired by famous Avadh historian Yogesh Praveen. “If someone is doing something for the benefit of the country, he should be given an opportunity...Baba Ramdev has taken up a very important issue and he should be supported,” Praveen remarked.
“Ramdev’s fast will certainly force the government to act tough on those who have stashed away money abroad....this black money is nation’s asset and it should come back,” said Neha Sachdeva, a student of Mass communication at the University of Lucknow.
In spite of the support for Ramdev, there are also voices that oppose his ways and worry that his movement had been infiltrated by vested interests.
“Ramdev is behaving like the representative of a political party,” said muslim cleric and Imam of the historic Tile Wali Masjid Maulana Fazle Rehman Waizi.
All India Shia Personal Law Board spokesman Maulana Yasoob Abbas said “Ramdev’s cause is good but his method t is flawed...he should work with the government to bring back the black money ,” Abbas said.
“This is no way to agitate...the government did the right thing by evicting him ,” Ravindra Nath Tripathi, a lawyer, quipped.
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