Ramdev has exposed his true colours and intentions: Chidambaram

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wedensday told repoters that Baba Ramdev has exposed his true colours and intentions by telling his audience during an interaction at Haridwar that he would raise an armed cadre and retaliate if Ravan Lila is repeated.

"I have seen the statement and he has exposed his true colours and intentions," Chidambaram said.

Talking about the threat to Ramdev's life, the home minister said the Delhi police had received some inputs, which was shared with Ramdev. "This was the reason he was removed from Ramlila maidan," the home minister said. 

"The Delhi police received a notice from the Supreme Court and a reply will be filed. We will have to wait till then," he said in response to a question on whether the threat to Ramdev came from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Explaining his silence over the past three days, Chidambaram said that he wanted to go on record after the heat died down.

"Forty three civilians were injured, thirty nine were discharged after first aide, two of them have been operated upon. While Sunil Kumar's condition is stable, Rajbala is still critical. Thirty two policemen were also injured during the incident," he said.

He emphasised that Baba Ramdev was given permission from June 1 to June 20 for holding Yog Shivir. He did not keep his promise and started a political campaign. On June 4 there were 40,000 people at Ramlila maidan and we had information that the number would swell to over 1 lakh by June 5.

"The permission was withdrawn and he was told to leave Delhi. Since he insisted on being in Delhi he was removed," Chidambaram said.

Chidambaram refused to give any direct answer to questions relating to four senior minister's rushing to the airport to hold talks with Baba. "I am not going to say anything right now. We would deal with such and other questions at a different time.

The government had seriously engaged Baba Ramdev in discussions and was persuading him not to undertake an indefinite fast. Whether he would be given permission in future would depend upon what he is coming for. Let him raise an armed force and the law will deal with him," he said.

The home minister said that Ramdev's agitation is a political one, which is fully backed by the RSS and its front organisations. Chidambaram made it clear that the government would not "allow anything that will trigger a conflagration".