I have no need for publicity, I’m doing this for India: Ramdev

Our fight is till the end, and there is no compromise Baba Ramdev tells The New Indian Express Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla during Teekhi Baat on IBN 7. Excerpts:

I do not understand the meaning behind your latest speeches. You are not saying anything new. 

A new thing will be said when the old one is completed.

But corruption is as old as mankind.

The biggest corruption lies in mining. Our land is spread across 33 lakh sq. km., there are 33,000 types of minerals out of which 89 per cent are the ones which have a market and are sold. The value of these saleable minerals is Rs 20,000 lakh crore.

You are talking of coal scam...

Not only coal, I have said that out of the 89 per cent minerals we have, the largest quantity is of coal. It is 285.86 million tonnes, whose value in the international market is Rs 2,751 lakh crore. I am saying that all this is being looted. 

But this has not started happening today.

The loot should stop sometime.

Swiss accounts existed even in 1950. You did not get any success.

The first step of success has started. We gave the first chance to the government, we said that we have not come to revolt or criticise the government.

Not to remove it? 

What is the meaning of removal? We are just talking as common citizens of this country.

What is the meaning of removal? We are just talking as common citizens of this country.

Prabhuji, nobody can stop anybody from speaking. In my 20 years in public life, I have not kept one rupee for me, did not take one inch land, from 15 years am on fruit diet, now even that has been stopped. In a 24-hour day, I work 18 to 20 hours.

The organisations attached with you are in business. I have read news about Rs 4 crore worth excise evasion.

When you are up against the whole system, which is under them, including income tax, sales tax, excise, CBI, ED, all possible government departments, today we have got more than 100 notices, for which we have to send a truck full of files to different departments, and we are sending. Tell me, do you know me?

Yes.

If a politician makes allegations that is a different thing, you are coming to me for seven years, tell me if I had done any bad thing with even one person. And even this work that I am doing to get black money back, the government will make allegations, but it is true that even if 25 per cent of black money, the nation will benefit a lot.

There is no way of doing that. The Supreme Court ordered a committee to be formed on the issue. After it was formed there was no reply, the names of people did not come up.

For corruption-free India, some things like a strong Lokpal, are needed. Why do they fear it ?

But such appointments would be made by the government.

Prabhuji, the four authorities that have been formed, the appointments to the post at the helm of these authorities is not transparent. The Opposition is saying this.

Why only Delhi? Why not hold protests in small cities for three days?

I have done a two-lakh kilometre tour of this country and will do it in future also. If the government does not pay heed, then I will make the relevant announcement from Ramlila Maidan. We have made andolan samitis in 550 districts, more than 5000 tehsils and 80 per cent villages.

One year ago, you had told me that you would put up 542 candidates. Now you have become non-political.

I have said that 542 good candidates should go to Parliament.

Anna made a team, but he disbanded it. You are only Ramdev, from start to end.

We have a big team. In every state, there is an in-charge.

Will your protest become politicised?

Our protest would not be politicised, but politics would be cleaned up.

In democracy, political parties fight elections...

There are three steps in a protest: first is getting people together through Jan Andolan, that has happened, they said that people don’t come in Jan Andolan.

But which government do they elect after that?

The second step is to change the character of power, third is to change the system, we will take the andolan through these three steps.

When is the the second step coming?

I will tell you things about the second step after three days.

You seem soft towards the Congress these days. Are you holding talks with them is secret?

We are the same inside and outside, we want to speak with grace, discipline and humility.

The government disciplined you last time.

The people of the country answered in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa and Delhi. Even in Uttarakhand, it happened due to fault of some other political parties. As an indication, let me tell you that if the Congressmen do not work this time, then there is only one way out. If they do not work, they would have to be boycotted.          

Congress to be boycotted?

If they don’t do what we are saying. 

You mean the three demands that you have put forth today.

Black money, corruption and system change.

After three days, the protest can be political or non-political...

We will be non political, but will stand on ground to bring about political transformation...

Anna is known as Gandhian. You came to Anna’s platform with some people one day and then went away. But he is not seen in your andolan. Is there a competition between white and saffron?

We have done nothing for winning or losing, but for saving the country

Did you call him to Ramlila Maidan?

100 per cent we have called him

Is there any personal ambition in your campaign?

What is our personal ambition, Prabhuji, there is fight over three things, ‘Jar, Joru, Zameen’ . There is no Joru or Zameen

You have a lot of land

We have land, wealth, given by the people of the country for the country.

You have said today that the Lokpal Bill should be passed first, and amendments can happen later.

I am saying that I am not talking about comma and full stops. Like 100 amendments happened to the Constitution.

Should I presume that you have given a way out to the government?

The government can heave a sigh of relief.

Ramdev’s name will be attached, that because he said, we passed it, then amendments would happen. You weakened Anna’s movement in this.

I read in newspapers two, three days ago that Lokpal Andolan is over, but it is not over.

When will black money come?

Prabhuji, it will happen in three to five years, this is not the work of one day. Even a child takes nine months to be born.