Ramdev lauds Rahul Gandhi for reviving Congress, calls PM Modi's ministers 'arrogant'

NEW DELHI: Yoga guru Ramdev, known for his closeness to the government, has sprung a surprise by praising Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi while describing Modi's ministers as “arrogant“ and criticizing the government on issues related to farmers.

In an interview to Aaj Tak to mark one year of the Modi government, Ramdev praised the Prime Minister himself but stressed that some ministers in his government had become arrogant. To a question on Rahul Gandhi's aggressive campaigns against government policies, Ramdev said Rahul had “given a lifeline to a virtually dead Congress. Such a big political house (Congress) was bogged down by inertia. But it is back on its wheels now.“

He said Congress had succeeded in cornering the government on development and farmers' issues. "It's for the government to win back the confidence of farmers. They will have to formulate a new farm policy," he said. Yoga guru Ram dev said in a TV interview that the issue of land acquisition was relevant only in some areas. "On a larger scale, it's the issue the issue of providing farmers electricity , fertilizers and water for irrigation, besides fixing the right MSP. It's unfortunate that farmers are treated like unskilled labourers," he said.

To a question on Rahul Gandhi's "suit-boot ki sarkar" slogan against Modi, Ramdev retorted, "Suit boot pahanne se koi apradhi ho jaata hai kya (Does someone become a criminal by wearing a suit)?" Asked whether people in the Modi government had become arrogant, Ramdev said after coming to office, leaders of all political parties become inaccessible by changing their phone numbers. "Barring Modi, Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah, most people have changed their phone numbers. Some people have become arrogant. This needs to be rectified," he said.