Midnight Police Action, ended Ramdev’s fast Dramatically. Baba Shifted to Haridwar. Civil Societies term it is violation of rights.
Baba Ramdev’s hunger fast and protest against corruption ended with scenes of violence and drama after the Delhi police used a lathicharge and tear gas shells on the Baba’s supporters before detaining him at Ramlila Maidan which had served all day as a sort of capital city for the yoga icon and his mass movement against the government.
An externment notice was served on him and he has been taken to his ashram in Haridwar. This means that the yoga expert will not be allowed into Delhi. Home Secretary GK Pillai made clear that Baba Ramdev was “free to go anywhere.” He also said that the government did not fear any backlash as no action had been taken against him save the externment.
But the police action at the Ramlila Maidan has been compared to the Emergency by other civil society activists like Shanti Bushan. Others like Swami Agnivesh said that because the Baba’s supporters had been largely peaceful, the police has violated basic democratic rights. “The government should resign,” said Mr Bhushan.
Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed at the Ramlila Grounds to prevent people from gathering.
At 1 am, close to 600 policemen arrived at Ramlila Maidan to demand that the crowd of 60,000 supporters disperse. Their argument was that the gathering had been granted permission only for a yoga camp and not as a mass demonstration. (
A group of policemen trooped onto the stage, reportedly after some people threw stones at them. The Baba asked them to go away. He then leapt from his stage, his saffron robes fanning out behind him, into the crowd of supporters. Seated on a follower’s shoulders, the Baba then delivered a lengthy speech, waving his fist in the air. Finally, the police managed to get to him
At 2 am, teargas shells were launched upon the thousands of people who were present, allegedly in an attempt to force the crowds to leave the grounds. A small fire broke out on the stage that had been used by the Baba but fortunately, it did not spread.
At 5.30 am, the Baba was evicted from Delhi and moved to his ashram in Haridwar.
Government sources say that the Baba was detained for just a few minutes.
The Baba and the government had hit the collision course at around 9 pm with both sides accusing each other of betrayal. Baba Ramdev said the government had falsely assured him that it would meet his charter of demands that include recovering black money held abroad by Indians and declaring it a national asset.
The government in turn said that the Baba had in writing promised even before he began his fast that it would end early last evening. The implication was that unknown to his supporters, the government and the yoga icon had struck a secret deal. Stung, the Baba accused the government of lying and said the gloves were coming off.
Another letter from the government was then sent to him assuring him that the government was serious about following up on his demands. The letter appealed again for the Baba to end his hunger strike.
Baba Ramdev has been the government’s top priority this week – top ministers spent hours meeting with him to persuade him that his “satyagraha against corruption” should not be launched because the government was willing to work with him to address his concerns.
Several rounds of talks-including those on Friday- were followed by reports that a compromise had been reached. But late on Friday evening, after meeting with senior ministers Kapil Sibal and Subodh Kant Sahay at the Claridges Hotel in Delhi, the Baba returned to Ramlila Maidan and told a crowd of thousands that his fast would begin as planned on Saturday. He said his movement would be non- violent and that he would fast “till the end
Baba Ramdev’s hunger fast and protest against corruption ended with scenes of violence and drama after the Delhi police used a lathicharge and tear gas shells on the Baba’s supporters before detaining him at Ramlila Maidan which had served all day as a sort of capital city for the yoga icon and his mass movement against the government.
An externment notice was served on him and he has been taken to his ashram in Haridwar. This means that the yoga expert will not be allowed into Delhi. Home Secretary GK Pillai made clear that Baba Ramdev was “free to go anywhere.” He also said that the government did not fear any backlash as no action had been taken against him save the externment.
But the police action at the Ramlila Maidan has been compared to the Emergency by other civil society activists like Shanti Bushan. Others like Swami Agnivesh said that because the Baba’s supporters had been largely peaceful, the police has violated basic democratic rights. “The government should resign,” said Mr Bhushan.
Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed at the Ramlila Grounds to prevent people from gathering.
At 1 am, close to 600 policemen arrived at Ramlila Maidan to demand that the crowd of 60,000 supporters disperse. Their argument was that the gathering had been granted permission only for a yoga camp and not as a mass demonstration. (
A group of policemen trooped onto the stage, reportedly after some people threw stones at them. The Baba asked them to go away. He then leapt from his stage, his saffron robes fanning out behind him, into the crowd of supporters. Seated on a follower’s shoulders, the Baba then delivered a lengthy speech, waving his fist in the air. Finally, the police managed to get to him
At 2 am, teargas shells were launched upon the thousands of people who were present, allegedly in an attempt to force the crowds to leave the grounds. A small fire broke out on the stage that had been used by the Baba but fortunately, it did not spread.
At 5.30 am, the Baba was evicted from Delhi and moved to his ashram in Haridwar.
Government sources say that the Baba was detained for just a few minutes.
The Baba and the government had hit the collision course at around 9 pm with both sides accusing each other of betrayal. Baba Ramdev said the government had falsely assured him that it would meet his charter of demands that include recovering black money held abroad by Indians and declaring it a national asset.
The government in turn said that the Baba had in writing promised even before he began his fast that it would end early last evening. The implication was that unknown to his supporters, the government and the yoga icon had struck a secret deal. Stung, the Baba accused the government of lying and said the gloves were coming off.
Another letter from the government was then sent to him assuring him that the government was serious about following up on his demands. The letter appealed again for the Baba to end his hunger strike.
Baba Ramdev has been the government’s top priority this week – top ministers spent hours meeting with him to persuade him that his “satyagraha against corruption” should not be launched because the government was willing to work with him to address his concerns.
Several rounds of talks-including those on Friday- were followed by reports that a compromise had been reached. But late on Friday evening, after meeting with senior ministers Kapil Sibal and Subodh Kant Sahay at the Claridges Hotel in Delhi, the Baba returned to Ramlila Maidan and told a crowd of thousands that his fast would begin as planned on Saturday. He said his movement would be non- violent and that he would fast “till the end
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