UP says no entry,shaken Ramdev fasts in Haridwar

Less than 24 hours ago,he was daring the government in front of thousands of supporters at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. Forced out of the capital and with the Uttar Pradesh government foiling his plans to reach Noida,yoga guru Baba Ramdev,back at his sprawling headquarters here tonight,found himself isolated but continued his fast.

A visibly shaken and exhausted Ramdev appealed to people in Uttarakhand and Western UP to join him. Clearly,he wanted numbers. The desperation was showing as he did not lash out at the BSP government which flashed the no-entry sign at him but said that he urged “respectful sister” Mayawati to reconsider her decision.

Not more than 50 supporters watched him re-launch his fast within the precincts of the Patanjali Yogapeeth complex. There was no over-enthusiasm on the part of the BJP government in Uttarakhand either although chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank did drop in to offer moral support.

Nishank told The Indian Express that his government would offer all support to him and provide security. “He can sit on a fast anywhere in Uttarakhand. We support his cause,” he said.

“I wanted to go to Noida. I reached till Muzaffarnagar when I got to know that I have been barred from entering UP. Senior police officials told me they will have to arrest me if I enter. I decided to return,” Ramdev said. He added he would try to go to Noida again in a day or two. “I will speak to respectful Mayawatiji and convey to her that my entering the state will not create any law and order situation. Everything will be peaceful,” he said.

An unexpected visitor was N D Tiwari who expressed his support to the Baba’s campaign and slammed the Centre. “I have always been a supporter of the Baba. Whosoever was behind this,I condemn them. It was shameful,” Tiwari said.

Ramdev claimed around 5,000 of his supporters were missing and thousands are injured. He alleged that the UPA had plotted to kill him. He vowed to return to Delhi after a fortnight. Replying to questions,he said “Dilli kisi ke baap ki nahin hai. Dilli poore Hindustan ki hai.”

Earlier,the UP police stopped his cavalcade at Purkazi on the inter-state border. Muzaffarnagar SP Pavin Kumar then told Baba Ramdev that since he had no permission to hold a dharna in Noida,there was no point in him going there. A police party then accompanied Baba Ramdev to Roorkee in Uttarakhand.

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.

Yogpeeth sources said if the number of those sitting on fast with Baba increases,the venue of satyagraha 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 checkpost on Haridwar-Delhi national highway in Muzaffarnagar and Biharighar and Bharawala checkposts in Saharanpur and Bijnore districts respectively.

(With ENS and PTI inputs)