Baba Ramdev opposed to PM under ambit of Lokpal

Differences seem to have cropped up within the civil society group over the demand for inclusion of the prime minister and higher judiciary in the Lokpal Bill. Baba Ramdev said he is opposed to such a move.

The yoga guru questioned how top positions like the prime minister and chief justice of India could be brought under the ambit of the Lokpal.

However, he also said that he did not want to go into the controversial issue and involve himself in a public debate. Baba Ramdev, who lent support to Anna Hazare in his campaign against corruption when he went on a fast at Jantar Mantar, however, refused to call off his fast from June 4 till the government conceded all his demands.

Reacting to Baba Ramdev comments, Arvind Kejriwal, one of the members of the joint committee on drafting the Lokpal Bill, said they would try to convince him about the inclusion of the prime minister in the Lokpal ambit.

Kejriwal said probably the yoga guru may not be aware of the full implications of the issue and they would try to convince him. Kejriwal said if the prime minister was kept out of the Lokpal, then there could be ten departments under him which would straightaway come out of the purview of the anti-corruption watchdog.

"If the prime minister becomes corrupt then nothing can be done about it," Kejriwal said.