Ramdev says he wants to set up nationalist force

Under attack for his proposal to raise an armed force, Baba Ramdev on Thursday said he was not trying to train terrorists or Maoists but only wanting to set up a “nationalist” force.

“I am not making terrorists, Naxalites and Maoists. I am only developing a nationalist force. It is for self-defence,” Baba Ramdev, who is continuing his fast against corruption, told his followers at Patanjali Yogapeeth.

He was reacting to a volley of criticism on his plans to raise a 11,000-strong force to deal with police and anti-social elements attempting to disrupt his anti-corruption campaign.

“If our women are able to safeguard themselves then nobody will dare to harm them and if our men are able then they can defend any Ramlila ground-type attack,” he said.

“My words should be taken in the right context. People should understand what I have said.I want to train them for self-defence. Shaastra means knowledge and shastra means self-defence,” Baba Ramdev said, referring to his comments on Wednesday that young men will be trained in both shaastra (vedas) and shastra (weapons).

Criticising the yoga guru, Home Minister P. Chidambaram had said on Wednesday that “by making that statement, he (Ramdev) has exposed his true colours and true intentions. Let him do so and the law will deal with that. You have to observe some discipline“.

“It is anti-national and we have to take action,” said V. Narayanswamy, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Congress said Baba Ramdev’s call for an armed rebellion is a serious issue and hoped that the government will take appropriate action to uphold the Constitution and maintain law and order.

The yoga guru, who is on a fast since June 4 demanding that black money stashed away abroad be brought back, said his hunger strike will continue till his demands are met.

“Fast will continue till my objective is achieved. I do not care even if I die. The fast will go on,” Baba Ramdev said.

He also said that his trust Patanjali Yogapeeth will bear all expenses for the treatment of people injured in the police action at Ramlila grounds, especially Rajbala who has been grievously hurt.

Doctors attending to Baba Ramdev here have said that his condition is deteriorating.

“He is stable but continuously losing weight. We have asked him to end fast soon,” they said.

Meanwhile, scores of volunteers have been deployed around ‘yagya shala’, where Baba Ramdev is holding his fast and are keeping a close vigil on the visitors.