Ramdev snubs Kejriwal, disapproves his comments against PM

Kejriwal had attacked Singh and his Cabinet colleagues whom Team Anna had accused of indulging in corruption

PTI | June 4, 2012



Virtually snubbing Arvind Kejriwal, yoga guru Ramdev on Sunday disapproved of the Team Anna member's comments against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other politicians during his fast along with Anna Hazare saying he was against personal criticism.

Soon after Kejriwal, who was on fast along with Anna Hazare and the yoga guru, finished his speech, Ramdev took the microphone and said "today, we thought that we will not take anybody's name. But Arvind took the names".

"We don't want any controversies. Arvind does not have any enmity with anyone. The names have been taken in some context. We are against personal criticism," he said.

During his speech, Kejriwal attacked Singh and his Cabinet colleagues whom Team Anna had accused of indulging in corruption and mentioned the names of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Jayalalithaa and Mayawati.

"We have some complaints against the Prime Minister. Prior to his tenure as Coal Minister only 34 coal blocks were given to private parties but during his tenure, between 2006 and 2009, 155 were given at a throwaway price. But after giving up this ministry, one coal block has been given", Kejriwal said.

"If he is clean then he should go for an independent probe. But he wants the probe done by the CBI, which is directly under him. And we all know in that probe he will come out clean", he asserted.

Challenging the many allegations levelled against Team Anna, he said, "set up a Special Investigating Team (SIT) consisting of retired Supreme and High Court judges, and let them probe. If the charges against us were found true then give us double punishment but if the allegation against him and his colleagues are true send them to jail".

Alleging there were grave charges against 13-14 of his Cabinet colleagues, Kejriwal asked for fast-track courts to be set up and the cases against them be decided and if they are found guilty send them to jail.

The Team Anna member also alleged that the government was using the CBI to arm twist politicians like Jayalalithaa, Mayawati, Lalu Prasad Yadav when it needed them in the Parliament.

On the issue of passing of the Janlokpal Bill, Kejriwal said, "no politician was serious on getting it passed. It was evident from the events that took place on December 27, 28 and 29 last year during the Winter Session".

"First the government ditched us in the name of Joint Drafting Committee, then the PM had said that he will bring out a strong Lokpal Bill. His Bill had a provision of penalising a complainant for two years in jail if his allegations were proved wrong. But if proved right then the accused will get just six months of jail", he said.

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