His denial notwithstanding, it has been established that Baba has political ambitions. He has crafted his political agenda with the help of a brain trust from the ranks of the Sangh Parivar’. Prominent figures include Hindutva ideologue Govindacharya, former IB Chief Ajit Doval, who now heads an RSS think tank, and Gurumurthy of the Sangh-backed Swadeshi Jagran Manch.

It is surprising that the government ignored the motley crew around Ramdev when it decided to play along with him. The Yoga Guru has made no secret of his links with the RSS and has been associated with several Sangh-sponsored movements. In 2007, for instance, VHP leader Ashok Singhal approached him to join the Ganga Raksha Manch which he came into contact with a host of RSS and BJP leaders. Later, he joined Mangala Gau Gram Yatra which was organized by the RSS under the leadership of a Sadhu from Karnataka, Raghveshwara Bharati. This was another opportunity to work closely with the RSS.

But, it was his friendship of ideologue Govindacharya that seems to have fired Baba’ political imagination and sparked off foray into politics. Govindacharya was one of he “young turks” who scripted the Hindutva agenda with Ram Mandir movement as the pivot that propelled the BJ P to national prominence in the late 1980s and 1990s. He faded away from the BJP after he earned Atal Behari Vajpayee’s wrath for describing him as “mukhauta”.

As Ramdev’s interest in politics grew from 2009 onwards, Govindacharya helped him to create a saffron—minded brain trust to advice him. Prominent figures included former IB chief Ajit Doval. Govindacharya is now a disillusioned man. He is disappointed with the man (Ramdev) he mentored as he sees potential for a mass movement against the Congress on corruption.

Govindacharya has gone on record saying “I have poor opinion of the quality of Ramdev’s leadership and Anna Hazare also. Both are good and talented persons, but fall short of the requirements of anti-corruption movement. The corruption issue has generated such a huge swell of mass support. Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare raised so many expectations when they launched their hunger strike. But their blow-hot, blow-cold responses have given the impression of incoherence.

Baba is also keen to start a political party of his won and has often enough declared he intends to launch one soon. He, however, retracted under intense pressure from the RSS and the BJP, who were concerned that he would emerge as a rival for the same electoral base. It is well known that Ramdev had several meetings with RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat , BJP President Nitin Gadkari and senior leader L K Advani. Gadkari pleaded with him not to start a separate political party and to work with the BJP and RSS setup.

According to sources Ramdev was persuaded to change his mind and position himself as the mentor of the movement against corruption, a Jayaprakash Narayan-like figure who could play king-maker in the formation of a non- Congress government in future.

The Manmohan Singh government’s decision to roll a red-carpet for Ramdev at Delhi Airport and depute four senior cabinet ministers, headed by Pranab Mukherjee, to received the Baba, who seeks to challenge the Congress with the help of RSS, has irked Congressmen. Ramdev’s image, which was soaring high only a week back, seems to have crashed after he was bundled off to Haridwar in a mid-night swoop at his camp in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan.

The Yoga Guru has been exposed badly. Firstly, he gave in writing that he would break his fast, having been reached an amicable agreement with the government. He was supposed to have announced that he has signed the accord and he withdraws the fast. But, he kept it a secret, going ahead with his fast resulting in the midnight swoop at Ramlila ground and Ramdev’s subsequent deportation to Haridwar in his Yoga camp. In the meanwhile, government disclosed the agreement it has reached with the Baba. Evidently, it was an embarrassment to Ramdev.

The episode was a comic farce. The government and Ramdev holding talks at Delhi’s Claridge’s hotel; Ramdev not agreeing to call off the hunger strike despite two parties coming to an agreement; the government making public Ramdev’ s commitment to call off the fast even as the latter continued his show at Ramlila maidan….. and what Baba’s explanation for not making his earlier understanding with the government public? “If he has revealed it and if the people left the Ramlila Ground and If the government went back on his words, then what would have happened?”

Doubtless, Baba Ramde enjoys a huge following. Added to this, there is indeed strong revulsion in the public against corruption. This, however, does not mean that all the demands made by Ramdev are reasonable. While the intentions may be sincere, the remedies he suggested can be worse than cure. For instance demonetisation of 500-rupee and 1000-rupee notes would wipe out the earnings of many honest people. Is this collateral damage acceptable to the country? In the same way at a time when there is a vociferous demand for abolition of death penalty even in cases of murder, capital punishment for corrupt government functionaries is a far-fetched demand. (IPA Service)