Ramdev friend Sahay is govt’s main negotiator

What made matters even more curious was the fact that Sahay had been specially summoned from the United States to help in diffusing the crisis emerging out of Ramdev’s planned fast on the issue of corruption and black money. Sahay was on an official trip to the US and was scheduled to remain there till June 8. He returned on Tuesday night after receiving calls from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mukherjee.

On Wednesday,Sahay had a separate one-on-one meeting with Ramdev in the afternoon in an effort to persuade him to call off his fast. He later met the Prime Minister in the evening to brief him on his deliberations with Ramdev. Today too,Sahay spent the entire day dealing with Ramdev. It is learnt that it was he who prevailed upon Ramdev to call off his scheduled press conference in the afternoon as the government tried to bring down the hysteria surrounding Ramdev’s proposed fast.

Sahay was also closeted with senior Cabinet colleagues through most of the day,deciding on the government’s next line of action.

The government’s new-found trust in Sahay’s negotiating abilities are not without reason. Sahay is reported to have an old association with Ramdev which goes back to the time when the yoga guru was not yet the phenomenon that he is now. Ramdev stays at Sahay’s house whenever he visits Ranchi or nearby areas.

Importantly,Sahay had also come to Ramdev’s aid when the yoga guru came under attack from some quarters over allegations that medicines produced at his ashram contained animal bones. Sahay was the minister for food processing at that time. Sources said he had quietly spoken to the people attacking Ramdev and tried to convince them that tests on the medicines had not revealed the presence of bones or any animal parts. Sources said Ramdev “listens” to Sahay.

Sahay admitted he knew Ramdev and said he and his Cabinet colleagues had “fruitful discussions” with the yoga guru at the airport lounge. “We talked about specific issues and there were many common meeting grounds. Baba Ramdev said he was not against the government or anyone else. He offered a few constructive suggestions and we said we will consider all of them,” he told The Indian Express.

He said he would continue to talk with Ramdev over the next few days. “Such things don’t get resolved in one meeting. We will continue to try to convince him to cancel his fast,” he said.