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'I am not making terrorists, Naxalites and Maoists'
Under attack for his proposal to raise an armed force, Baba Ramdev on Thursday said he was not trying to train terrorists or Maoists but trying to set up a "nationalist" force.
"I am not making terrorists, Naxalites and Maoists. I am only developing a nationalist force. It is for self-defence," said Ramdev. He is continuing his fast against corruption at Patanjali Yogapeeth in Haridwar.
He was reacting to a volley of criticism on his plans to raise a 11,000-strong force to deal with police and anti-social elements attempting to disrupt his anti-corruption campaign.
'I want to train them for self-defence'
"If our women are able to safeguard themselves then nobody will dare to harm them and if our men are able then they can defend any Ramlila Ground-type attack," he said.
"My words should be taken in the right context. People should understand what I have said. I want to train them for self-defence. Shaastra means knowledge and shastra means self-defence," Ramdev said, referring to his comments on Wednesday that young men will be trained in both shaastra (vedas) and shastra (weapons).
Criticising the yoga guru, Home Minister P Chidambaram had said on Wednesday that "by making that statement, he (Ramdev) has exposed his true colours and true intentions. Let him do so and the law will deal with that. You have to observe some discipline".
Baba on fast since June 4
"It is anti-national and we have to take action," said V Narayanswamy, minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office.
Congress said Ramdev's call for an armed rebellion is a serious issue and hoped that the government will take appropriate action to uphold the Constitution and maintain law and order.
The yoga guru, who has been on a fast since June 4 for his demand of repatriation of black money stashed abroad, said his hunger strike will continue till his demands are met.
'We have asked him to end his fast'
"The fast will continue till my objective is achieved. I do not care even if I die. The fast will go on," Ramdev said.
He also said that his trust Patanjali Yogapeeth will bear all expenses for the treatment of people injured in the police action at Ramlila Maidan, especially Rajbala, an elderly woman who was grievously hurt.
Doctors attending to Ramdev have said that his condition is deteriorating.
"He is stable but continuously losing weight. We have asked him to end his fast soon," they said.
Meanwhile, scores of volunteers have been deployed around yagya shala, where Ramdev is holding his fast. They are keeping a close vigil on the visitors.