After Hazare, Ramdev slams PM, accuses him of inaction

After Anna Hazare, yoga guru Ramdev on Friday trained guns at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh alleging that he is not "politically honest" and it is not anti-corruption activists but Manmohan Singh himself who is weakening the democratic traditions of the country.

Addressing a press conference to brief about the June 3 fast along with Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar here, the yoga guru said he still trusts Singh's "personal honesty".

"The prime minister does not take responsibility for the actions of his ministers. It is said that the anti-corruption activists are weakening the democratic traditions. It is not we but the prime minister who weakens the democratic system by not taking action," he said.

Hazare said he has lost faith in Singh though he earlier had a strong belief in him

"I had a strong belief in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but now I do not have faith in him," Hazare said during his visit to Ratnagiri.

"We have to select persons having good character and send them to Parliament, then only the expected change will take place," he added.

During the last 65 years, not a single law of public interest was passed in Lok Sabha or state assemblies by the "members elected by public", he lamented.
"Most of them are involved in corruption and taking undue advantage of lack of public information," the social activist said.

He alleged that most of the public funds were used by leaders and government officials for corrupt activities and that only 10 per cent was used for developmental schemes. "In this situation, how can we expect national development?" he asked.

Ramdev also said if the PM is sure that "he and his ministers are not corrupt, then why was is he shying away from ordering a probe".

On the June 3 protest, he said there will be simultaneous protests in state capitals on the day. He said the police have allowed them to have a crowd of 5,000 but he will only bring 3-4,000 protesters along with him.

"After 56 days and 16 letters, we finally got the permission last evening. I have appealed to people not to indulge in violence. This is a non-violent protest to bring back black money. If police stops you, stop there. If they arrest you, court arrest," he said.

He also claimed that if the blackmoney stashed abroad is brought back, each family will benefit by Rs 10 crore.