Activists object but Ramdev says Sadhvi Ritambhara an old friend

New Delhi/Kolkata: Member of Lokpal Bill joint drafting committee Prasant Bhusan today said he was 'unhappy' at the presence of Sangh Parivar leader Sadhvi Ritambhara on the dais, where Baba Ramdev is on hunger-strike against black money, saying the platform should not be allowed to be used by "communal" forces. The Baba however described her as 'an old friend'.

"I am unhappy with the presence of Sadhvi Ritambhara. You cannot prevent anyone from supporting a cause but the platform should not be allowed to be used by communal forces," Bhusan told newsmen after an interactive sesssion here on 'Can Lokpal Bill Instil Integrity'.

Bhusan said he found most of Ramdev's demands reasonable although he disagreed with the yoga guru's demand for death penalty for the corrupt.

He also expressed doubt about the Baba's reported claim that the government has conceded 99 per cent of his demands.

Defending the presence of right-wing Hindu leader Sadhvi Ritambhara as he sat on his fast against black money at the Ramlila Ground here, Baba Ramdev Saturday said he had known her for the past 15 years.

"I have known Sadhvi Ritambhara for last 15 years, I have seen the maternity centre she runs in Mathura," he said.

Allegations that his movement was backed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) gained momentum after Sadhvi Ritambhara, who is linked to the RSS and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and is one of the accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case, was seen sharing the dais with Ramdev at the Ramlila Ground Saturday.

"Those who see communalism in culture and civilisation have a distorted mentality, I will not comment on them," Ramdev added.


 

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The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh addressing the Joint Session of Ethiopian Parliament, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on May 26, 2011.