Lok Sabha polls 2014: Yoga can wait, Baba Ramdev dubs AAP 'speed breaker'

HARIDWAR: Dubbing China and the US as India’s “sworn enemies” and describing the Aam Aadmi party (AAP) as a “gang” of “contumacious anarchists who are bereft of values”, yoga guru Baba Ramdev has appealed to his supporters to campaign for India’s “vikas purush” Narendra Modi.

In an internal publication, a one-page message, Ramdev has asked his followers to camp in Varanasi for door-to-door campaigning in favour of Modi (see box). Written in chaste Hindi, the message, a copy of which is in exclusive possession of ET, pulls no punches in attacking the US and China as India’s enemies.

Without mentioning the AAP, the message reads that a “new political party” has been “sponsored” with the “sole motive” to ensure that India’s “greatest patriot” (referring to Modi) does not become the Prime Minister of the country.

It further states that the “new party” is a “cartel of impertinent” people whose ideologies pose “grave danger to the ethos and culture” of the country. And that their “principles and policies are a threat” to the unity” of the people of India.

Calling them “speed breakers”, Ramdev asked his supporters to ensure that an “experienced, honest, stable and strong” government (referring to the BJP) is voted to power with a “thumping majority”. Attacking the US and China, Ramdev’s message reads “foreign powers including US and China want to ensure that India remains a weak nation and that its control remains in their hands”. He further said that “such foreign forces do not want India to develop”.

Without naming anyone, the printed message reads that some foreign countries have also invested into “individuals and non government organizations (NGOs)” which are “working against the interest” of India. A questionnaire ET sent to Baba Ramdev’s spokesman on the message went unanswered.

Indirectly referring to Modi, the yoga guru has said that only the “self-respecting, brave soldier and able leader” should be made the country’s Prime Minister. Referring to the Congress, he has mentioned that “what the wealth looted by British and Mughals put together is much more than the loot made by a lootera family in the past 67 years”.

It goes on to say that “corrupt politicians, businessmen and executives” together looted one thousand lakh crore rupees from Indians. “Each year, by way of scams and tax evasion, they are amassing more than ten lakh crore rupees. From forest, water to land everything has been put on sale by them,” it reads.