Breaking his silence on the police action at Ramdev's protest congregation, prime minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday that it was "unfortunate" but unavoidable even as the political battle on the issue heated up with the BJP knocking at the president's door demanding a special session of parliament to discuss black money.

In his first comments on the issue, the prime minister Singh, who has been accused of mishandling the situation, said, "It is unfortunate that operation had to be conducted but quite honestly, there was no alternative."

He asserted that his government was concerned and serious about fighting corruption but maintained that there was "no magic wand" when his comments were sought by reporters on the much-criticised midnight police action to disrupt Ramdev's anti-corruption protest at Ramlila maidan.

There was no let up in the war of words with the Congress making it clear that it will deal sternly with forces of communalism and anarchy.

Stepping up its offensive againt the UPA government, a delegation of BJP-led NDA met president Pratibha Patil to demand convening of a special session of Parliament to discuss the issue of black money and police action against Ramdev and his supporters.

A day after the forcible shutting of the protest by Ramdev by Delhi police in Ramlila maidan, the supreme court took suo motu cognisance asking the government to explain the circumstances which compelled to take "brutal" action at the Ramlila maidan.

In Haridwar, Ramdev resumed his fast vowing to continue his 'satyagraha' till the government accepts his demands on curbing corruption and black money.

Facing the heat, Congress asserted in Delhi that it will deal firmly with communal forces and others wanting to destabilise the government.

Mincing no words, party spokesperson Janardhan Dwidedi accused the BJP of trying to foment trouble to return to power at the Centre.

He also lashed out at the BJP for comparing Ramdev with Mahatma Gandhi and Vivekananda.

High drama was witnessed at the press briefing when a man posing as a journalist tried to attack Dwidedi with a shoe. Sunil Kumar, who was sacked as a teacher of a coaching institute in Rajasthan, was immediately taken into custody.

Taking on Ramdev, Dwidedi said a man who claims to be saint tried to escape in a woman's dress. "Satyagrahis don't run away wearing woman's clothes. They fight," he said.

Ramdev had nearly given the police a slip after jumping from a three-metre high podium. He had melted into the crowd of supporters and changed into a salwar-kameez, acting like an injured woman, before he was spotted.

A delegation of NDA leaders led by BJP Parliamentary party chairman L K Advani met the president and handed over a memorandum demanding immediate convening of a special session of parliament and passage of a resolution declaring the ill-gotten money stashed away abroad as national asset.

The memorandum said in the special session, the opposition wants to "compel" the government to explain its "brutal action against peaceful protesters and apologise for this attack on civil liberties and democratic rights".

The president gave them a patient hearing and assured the delegation that the memorandum will be examined and sent to the government for appropriate action.

BJP, whose top leaders are holding a satyagraha at Rajghat here to protest the crackdown on Ramdev and his supporters, accused the government of "shielding and protecting" the corrupt.

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Ramdev says history will not forgive PM for "political sin"

With the government toughening its stand against Baba Ramdev, the yoga guru today said he forgave the prime minister for the crackdown on his agitation but history will not forgive him for the "political sin" he committed.

"The prime minister termed it (the police action) unfortunate. In a way he has accepted his sin. Since he has accepted his sin, I have forgiven him," Ramdev told reporters here.

"I have personally forgiven him but the history of not only India but the whole world will never forgive him for the political sin he committed. He has tainted democracy," Ramdev, who is continuing his satyagraha here, said.

The yoga guru was reacting to Singh's remarks yesterday that "it was unfortunate that the operation had to be conducted but quite honestly, there was no alternative."

Baba Ramdev also attacked the Congress for ridiculing his escape in a women's dress from the ground, saying even Maratha warrior Shivaji had escaped in disguise to secure the nation.

"If anybody saves his life for securing the nation, they won't like it. Even Shivaji had saved his life. But these people do not accept Shivaji as their ideal. Their target is to protect terrorists and kill Baba."

Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi had yesterday said, "A satyagrahi does not run away stealthily wearing women's dress. Satyagrahi is always ready to sacrifice his life".

Ramdev also alleged there could be "five kinds of conspiracies" to eliminate him at the Ramlila ground from where he was evicted after his talks with the Government to end the fast failed.

The yoga guru said that he suspects that the police would now edit the recordings made by the CCTV cameras installed at the ground in a bid to wipe out the evidence so that they escape action.

"We had put CCTV cameras in the camp, which recorded the events. If the police had not done anything wrong, why did they took away the footages forcibly. This is clear cut goondaism of the police.

"Our workers who had gone there have been embroiled in false cases under a conspiracy. The police will now edit the footage and then release after deleting portions so that no action follows against them," Ramdev said.

He alleged that the police lobbed hundreds of tear gas shells in a bid to suffocate him to death where he was hiding.

Ramdev said there could be conspiracies to kill him by strangulating, burning the stage on which he was sitting and shooting him.

He said the government's argument that there was a threat of terrorist attack on him could be the fifth conspiracy to eliminate him and alleged that an e-mail has been "manufactured" by the government to make it convincing.

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Congress faces wrath of agitators

High drama was witnessed at the AICC headquarters here today when a person posing as a journalist tried to attack party general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi with a shoe, apparently miffed over the treatment meted out to Ramdev.

The person, who was carrying an identification as Sunil Kumar of Nav-Sanchar Patrika from Rajasthan, came close to Dwivedi, removed his shoe and stopped short of hitting him with it.

The middle-aged man, wearing a striped T-shirt, was heard telling Dwivedi that "you cannot stop us from asking questions."

The man was immediately caught by the AICC staffer and some journalists and was removed from the briefing hall while being beaten up. He was then taken away by police.

Dwivedi described the incident as "pre-planned" attack as he was to speak against Ramdev and his agitation which Congress leader said was conducted at the behest of Sangh Parivar.

"Whatever, I said has been proved by this one man. Had this (attack) not been orchestrated, the person would not have asked favourable questions so that there were no doubts," he said.
Reacting to the development, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, "It is obvious that there is an element of frustration and desperation among the Sangh Parivar. But I can't confirm whether the man belongs to RSS or BJP."

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh alleged the attacker was an RSS member.

"The man seems to be an RSS activist," he said.

When asked as to how he can confirm that the attacker was an RSS activist, Singh claimed his ID card was found in his bag.

Singh said he has spoken to the Delhi police commissioner and asked him to find the antecedents of the person, including the organisation he belongs to. "I have asked the police commissioner to thoroughly question the attacker," he said.

Another party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said, "It was very obvious that the same communal and divisive forces who were behind the agitation (supporting Ramdev) have planned this attack."

According to eyewitnesses, the attacker was sitting in the second row of the right side of the podium from where the press conference was being addressed. As the press conference was inching towards an end, the man got from his seat and went closer to the exit door from where he asked a question whether Congress was happy that the opposition is weak in the country.

Dwivedi answered nobody should ever be in the misconception that there is no opposition. However, the man was heard murmuring that his question was not answered.

As the press conference was about to conclude, the attacker took out one of his shoes and climbed on the stage and rushed towards Dwivedi. He was, however, overpowered by Congress workers and journalists.

Earlier Reports:

Baba Ramdev continues fast in his ashram, BJP joins agitation

Undeterred by his forceful eviction from New Delhi, Baba Ramdev resumed his agitation at his ashram here, saying the 'satyagraha' will continue till his demands on curbing corruption and black money are met by the centre.

Baba Ramdev sat on 'satygraha' along with his supporters and disciples at 'yagyashala' of his Patanjali Yogpeeth late last night, yogpeeth sources said on Monday.

The yoga guru, who was bundled out of the national capital after police crackdown on his followers, tried to resume his satyagrah in Noida yesterday but was not allowed to enter Uttar Pradesh.

He was stopped on the border of Muzaffarnagar district at Bhuraheri police check post where the administrative officials asked him to return to Uttarakhand.

Later, Baba returned to Patanjali Yogpeeth last night and began his fast.

Baba told his followers that he will continue his satyagrah till his demands on curbing corruption and black money are met by the centre.

Ramdev had yesterday said, "No one should violate law and so I am not going to Delhi. I was not allowed to reach Noida in UP to continue the protest. Now it will happen here".

He had said that the government can stop him from entering Delhi for not more than 15 to 30 days and he will come again to the national capital.

Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had last evening met Baba Ramdev in Yogpeeth and assured him full support and security if he wanted to continue his fast. Former Uttarakhand chief minister and veteran Congress leader N D Tiwari had also travelled to Yogpeeth to meet Baba Ramdev and lent his full support to the cause for which he is fighting.

The Uttarakhand BJP has announced that it will observe a "black day" at all district headquarters today to protest the police crackdown on Baba Ramdev and his supporters.

Yogpeeth sources said that if the number of those sitting on fast with Baba increases, the venue of satyagrah can be shifted to a bigger hall in phase II of Patanjali Yogpeeth.

Keeping in view the demonstrations planned by different groups, a high alert has been sounded in the entire state, police said.
Meanwhile prohibitory orders are in force throughout Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh and police have been deployed in three check posts in the state bordering Uttarakhand to prevent Baba Ramdev's entry.

District authorities have posted police at Bhuraheri check-post on Haridwar-Delhi national highway in Muzaffarnagar and Biharighar and Bharawala check-posts in Saharanpur and Bijnore districts respectively.

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Meanwhile, BJP has thrown its weight behind Baba Ramdev in his fight against black money and corruption. The party made a statement today saying that it is not a fight of one party or one individual but the fight of the nation.

Addressing BJP workers at the 24-hour 'satyagraha' site at Rajghat here, BJP President Nitin Gadkari said, "I spoke to Baba Ramdev this morning. He has resumed his fast. We are with the people who fight against corruption. This is a fight to save democracy and it is not a fight of one party or individual but the fight of the nation," he said.

Senior BJP leader L K Advani said the BJP had earlier also raised the issue of black money and will continue to support those who fight against the menace.

The BJP government in Karnataka has decided to pass a resolution in the state assembly condemning the government action of crackdown on Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's agitation against corruption. Yeddyurappa termed the eviction of Ramdev and police action on the gathering at Ramlila grounds as "anti-democratic".

The Arunachal unit of BJP today launched ‘Raj Bhawan Chalo’ programme as part of the nationwide 24-hour Satyagrah launched by the party. The party submitted a memorandum to Governor Gen (Retd) J J Singh immediately after the protest march, General Secretary and party spokesman Tai Tagak said.