Baba Ramdev vs Government: Outreach to all-out attack in 5 days

June 1: Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, HRD minister Kapil Sibal, tourism minister and Baba’s close acquaintance Subodh Kant Sahay and parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal meet Baba Ramdev at Delhi airport as he flies in on private jet. Delegation day after PM writes to Baba, asking him not to go on fast. Talks begin. Both sides positive

June 2,3: Day long closeted meetings at Claridges Hotel. Baba calls off press conference at govt’s request. No consensus emerges. Govt tries to convince Baba for token fast. Baba says “one or two issues” remain, to fast as scheduled. Govt huddle on possible repercussions on law and order during fast, medical implications for yoga guru

June 4: Baba Ramdev begins fast at Ramlila Maidan, with thousands of supporters. Sadhvi Rithambara of Ayodhya notoriety shares stage, triggering rift in civil society. Talks continue, different versions emerge. By evening, govt cries fraud, says Ramdev had given written assurance day ago that fast would be called off by June 6. Baba says govt betrayed him, pressured him into giving statement

June 5: Little past midnight, police storm Ramlila Maidan, saying permission was for “yoga camp” not political agitation. Amid tear gas and reported lathicharge, bundle off Ramdev, fly him to Dehra Dun. Baba says he disguised himself as a woman to escape but nabbed. At Patanjali Yog Peeth in Haridwar, says fastunto-death continues