Baba Ramdev toys with the UPA

The government gave a written point-by-point response to the issues raised by Baba Ramdev and presented a roadmap that it intends to initiate to tackle corruption and black money. The government’s detailed response was made public later in the evening.

However,Ramdev said he was not happy with the fact that some of his key demands,like the death penalty for corrupt officers and withdrawal of higher denomination currency notes,had not been addressed in the government’s roadmap,sources said. His demand to change the Constitution to enable the Prime Minister to be directly elected by the people also did not find a mention in the government’s response.

The ministers tried to explain that some of his demands were not practical but Ramdev apparently was not convinced. Sources said the government also wanted Ramdev to specifically give the assurance,before starting his fast,that it would not go on indefinitely and would only be a token one.

Meanwhile,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today called on President Pratibha Patil and briefed her on the consultations being held with Ramdev.

The yoga guru,in the meanwhile,visited Raj Ghat and Shaheed Park after his meeting with the two ministers and then headed to the Ramlila ground,the venue of his proposed fast,where he addressed a large gathering of followers.

“Baba ka dera yahin rahega jab tak sarkar baatein nahin manegi (I will continue to fast here till the government agrees to our demands),” Ramdev said amidst cheers from the crowd. While giving a detailed account of his meeting with the ministers,Ramdev said there were agreements on some issues.

“The government is making some efforts towards tackling corruption and we must appreciate that. But there are still a large number of unresolved issues. I will go ahead with my fast. I will continue to talk to the government,” he said.

Ramdev said the main problem with the government’s response was that it was non-committal in specifying time frames for the steps it promised to take.

In the light of his agitation getting the support of RSS,Ramdev said he was not aligned to any political party or group and had no “communal or political agenda”.

He refused to dwell on the issue of the proposed office of Lokpal,for which another anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare is underway. But in an interview with The Indian Express Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta for NDTV’s Walk The Talk programme,Ramdev said there was a difference in the issue of corruption,raised by Hazare,and black money against which his campaign was targeted.

“Anna Hazare and my agenda are not different but the issues are different. Therefore,I had to raise the issue separately. The issue first was of the Lokpal,now it is black money and reforms in the system,” he said.

Meanwhile,Sibal and Sahay drove to the Prime Minister’s residence after their meeting with Ramdev to brief him on their discussions with the yoga guru. After that,the two ministers were closeted in a meeting with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Here is what the government assured Ramdev on some of his key demands

* Panel to strengthen existing legal and administrative framework on black money

* Direct Taxes Code bill introduced in Parliament,wing in CBDT for criminal investigation

* Database of people going to tax-havens abroad

* Special courts to deal with corruption cases

* Technical Education in Indian languages

* Open to all suggestions on land acquisition law

* Ready to bring Public Services Delivery Act

Some of Ramdev’s demands which did not find a mention in government’s response

* Death penalty for corrupt

* Withdrawal of higher denomination currency notes

* Direct election of Prime Minister