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No excuse for Ramdev’s real
estate empire
Meet Ramdev, the landlord” (June 7) and other related stories have exposed the underbelly of the yoga guru’s real estate and commercial empire. It is shocking that under the garb of establishing yoga training camps and promoting Ayurveda, thousand of hectares of land was acquired at various places of the country at throwaway prices. BJP-ruled states are at the forefront in offering lands to the guru for a song but other parties were also equally beholden and never raised a voice against the land grab before the present crisis. It does not behove a sanyasi to acquire thousand of hectares of land for commercial purpose where millions of poor are still landless in this country. He needs to take a leaf from the life of Vinoba Bhave who accepted land in donation from the landed farmers and royals and further distributed the same to the landless in his famous Bhoodan Andolan. Manufacture and promotion of Ayurvedic medicines and formulations does not require thousand of acres of land. It is crass commercialism in the garb of asceticism. Instead, the Baba should have trained thousands of unemployed pharmacists at his Kankhal outfit in batches in Ayurveda formulations and sent them to their places to produce Ayurveda products as per his norms and standards and further procured these products for marketing under his brands. By this method, not only unemployed youth of the country would have found sustainable vocations, but the vast tracts of land he is presently acquiring, would not have been needed at all. Now that the lid has been opened, almost all political parties are making politically correct statements. Prior to this, all were acquiescent to the activities of Baba Ramdev, eyeing the potential vote bank of his followers. Many a times, even ministers have been seen adorning the dias of Baba’s preaching camps. This is the biggest irony of our political system. KIRAN SHARMA, Sundernagar |
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Fight corruption The editorial “Pendulum swings” (June 6) analysed the issue in an impartial, unbiased and balanced manner. In evacuating Baba Ramdev and his followers at the dead of night with the use of police, Rapid Action Force, lathis and tear gas shells, injuring many innocent persons in the process, not sparing even old women, the police and the government have not acted in the right manner. There must have been more sensible ways to deal with the situation. Whatever be the justification, the means used by the government left much to be desired. We are living in an independent India and not in the India run by the British who could justify, with impunity, any type of atrocity or highhandedness on the poor, hapless voiceless people of India. On the other hand the means adopted by Baba Ramdev, acting as a rabble-rouser, are questionable, notwithstanding his intentions. His followers have faith in him and so he must act and behave with maturity. Nevertheless, the government should not sidetrack the real issue of corruption which is eating into the body polity of India. The government must come out with the names of the persons who have stashed thousands of crores of illegal money in foreign banks. Ramdev or no Ramdev, the government is duty-bound to act. CHITRANJAN SHARMA, Chandigarh Selfless crusade Swami Nigmanand made a supreme sacrifice for an apt public cause like saving the sacred Ganga. The unsung hero is an epitome of selfless fight against environmental pollution, an appalling scourge of modern times. His crusade raises many a question. During his 114 day fast, neither the state government nor the Centre showed any concern either for the issue raised or the Swami’s life, Now the Central Minister for Environment Jairam Ramesh , talks of invoking Section 5 of the Environment Act. Was he waiting for the Swami’s death to do so? Protests are held to highlight important public issues. The governments have grown so insensitive and callous that nothing short of protester’s death stirs their conscience. Even then politics is involved to play the blame game and grab credit. Let the public take up the environment issue to vindicate Swami Nigmanand’s death. IPS HANS, Ludhiana Bhajan Lal’s career The editorial “Guru of defections: Bhajan Lal leaves a mark on politics” (June 6), summing up Haryana’s three time Chief Minister Bhajan Lal’s political career was pithy. From being a small trader selling cloth in villages on a bicycle to the Chief Ministerial post reminds one of the US President Abraham Lincoln’s inspiring life story. Unlike his Jat counterparts, Bhajan Lal was always humble and courteous to one and all regardless of their social and economic status. This unique personality trait paid him handsomely. No doubt, he has left an indelible mark on Indian politics. May the departed soul rest in eternal peace! TARA CHAND, Ambota, Una Drug menace The middle “Playboys of the golden track” (June 2) by Harwant Singh portrayed the pathetic picture of the physical fitness of Punjab’s youth. The ‘Punjab da Putter” have fallen prey to drugs and the liquor menace. That out of 18,000 prospective candidates only 1200 could qualify in the basic physical fitness test, needs no further explanation. Children must be educated about the ill effects of alcohol and drugs and importance of physical fitness, right from the primary school level. Nip the evil in the bud and let them bloom. Healthy children means wealthy nation. HARBANS SINGH, Ambala Cantt.
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