'Baba Ramdev is good at marketing'

All seems set for yoga guru Baba Ramdev's hunger strike against corruption in New Delhi from June 4. While this may seem as a follow-up to social activist Anna Hazare's fast against corruption last month, a cross-section of sociey rediff.com spoke to seemed divided on his appeal, and the outcome of his fast. 

Achyut Yagnik, social activist based in Ahmedabad, says Baba Ramdev appeals to the middle class. "The middle class is constantly worried about its health. In such a scenario, they either turn to yoga or to religion. For both, Baba Ramdev's methods appeal to them, so he is popular."

Yagnik feels Saturday's fast will sensitise Baba Ramdev's supporters to corruption. "They will join the fast in major cities in a symbolic way. That will just add to his popularity."

Veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar feels the fast will have more credibility because it has Hazare's support. Because of that, he says, the campaign will get a lot of media attention. "How far will it go? We'll have to wait and see," he added.

Qasim Iliyas, a spokesperson of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, says, "After Hazare's recent blitzkrieg on corruption, the public won't be much interested this time. He is just trying to cash in on his popularity and gain political dividends."

He adds that if the fast goes on for a long time and Baba Ramdev's health is affected, only then will the fast have any effect. "Many people feel that if the movement had the Bharatiya Janata Party's support, it would have had a different effect." 

Mansoor Alam, editor of a newspaper in New Delhi, said, "Anna has already started a movement. There is a committee in place which is discussing the issue. Baba is campaigning to bring back black money. Since this is what people also want, they are supporting him."

Alam points out that the communal violence bill is also in the news, but Anna and Baba have not mentioned that topic. About bringing the prime minister and the Chief Justice of India under the Lokpal bill, he felt that it required an intellectual discussion and not fasting. 

Dipankar Gupta, retired professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University, felt that "television channels have helped fuel the baba's popularity". "He is good at marketing," he chuckles.

"We don't know how long the fast will last," he added. "The government is being very foolish in deciding whether they want to be with the Lokpal bill or not. They are trying to play both ends against the middle. This is unfortunate behaviour."