Many wary of Ramdev's motive

PATNA: After Anna Hazare’s much-hyped hunger strike, Baba Ramdev, the yoga guru, now seems to have taken a plunge in the fight against corruption. However, many Patnaites seem to be toeing the line of Bollywood ‘badshah’ Shah Rukh Khan who has called Ramdev’s proposed hunger strike for repatriation of black money a politically motivated move. A large number of people feel that the fast plan is another publicity stunt.
Noted academician Imtiaz Ahmad, director of Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public library, said corruption is a very serious issue and it should be dealt with accordingly.But Ramdev is trying to gain political mileage from the entire episode. He seems to have taken a cue from Anna Hazare’s success on the corruption front. “If anything is to be done, let us take the issue, already raked up in the public domain by the social activist, to a higher level,” Ahmad told TOI.
“Let him concentrate on yoga and not try his luck at politics,” was the suggestion coming from a seasoned politician, L P Shahi. “The manner in which Ramdev is trying to handle this sensitive issue does not have many takers,” said the octogenarian, adding whatever political gain he will derive, will only be a temporary one.
Razi Ahmad, a well-known Gandhian, was quick to react: “I don’t have any fascination for this baba.” Calling the whole exercise a drama, he said, “Let him do his bit by spending crores on his ‘yoga shivir’ that he has planned at the Ram Lila ground in Delhi. He thinks he can achieve a great deal in fighting corruption by wasting so much money.”
Can he himself become a model for others to follow? asks All India Progressive Women’s Association, Patna secretary Anita Sinha. Can he explain crores of rupees that he has made in these few years? she asks. “Corruption and black money are not new issues; they have been raised by social activists like Anna Hazare and political parties like BJP. As the present Congress-led UPA government is knee-deep involved in corruption, such issues are bound to be raked up frequently,” she stated.
City’s well-known urologist N K Dubey feels corruption has entered into our veins. Baba Ramdev talks of retrieving black money, but he fails to realize that black money has become a part of our lives, be it in buying a flat or for paying dowry.
However, Meeta Mohini, an advocate, said, “At least his cause is right and worthy of support.” He shares a very informal relation with the public, she reasoned and added “by holding a meeting on such a grand scale, he thinks he can influence and connect with people better.” We should at least support the cause.