By Mohd. Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today deplored the crackdown by police on Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev by police. Terming the incident as a reminder of emergency era, Yadav blamed the UPA leaders for their myopic vision.
“You cannot simply arrest any person who is leading a peaceful protest. It is everyone’s right to lodge his protest in a democracy. The Congress leaders have lost their mental balance for taking this extreme and unjustifiable step,” said Mulayam while interacting with media in Lucknow. Terming the step as a move to crush democratic system, Yadav advocated that opposition leaders should have been consulted over the incident.
Mulayam Sigh addressing press conference
Mulayam lashed out at the advisors in UPA government for misleading the PM. “I am surprised over the role played by the advisors to Sonia Gandhi and PM. They have made a mess of the situation. Congress is exposed after the incident,” he said.
Mulayam stated that by police crackdown, Baba Ramdev will gain sympathy. “I suppose Ramdev has not committed any crime by raising voice against corruption. It has exposed the central government” he added. The Yadav chieftain opined Congress has a policy of harassing local satraps as SP, BSP and Laloo in Bihar through CBI. “I congratulate Baba Ramdev for exposing Congress and awakening among the masses. The mentality of Congress leaders is now open,” he said.
Responding to a querry over BJP and RSS support to Baba Ramdev, he stated that issue has been diverted and now Ramdev stands taller than Congress.
Earlier, on Saturday, the leader of opposition and SP leader Shivpal Yadav had distanced himself from Baba Ramdev’s agitation stating that such “satyagrah” is not the need of the hour while SP is raising voice constantly against corruption. However, after the police crackdown on Baba Ramdev, the party jumped to support Baba Ramdev fearing exclusion.