MP Cong speaks out on BJP Ramdev posturing

Finally the Congress in Madhya Pradesh has decided to spell out its stand on the growing association between the Madhya Pradesh government and Baba Ramdev.

Finally the Congress in Madhya Pradesh has decided to spell out its stand on the growing association between the Madhya Pradesh government and Baba Ramdev.

On the first day of the Budget session today, it announced that the party will boycott a Yoga Shibir to be held on the Vidhan Sabha campus tomorrow for all legislators. Ramdev will teach MLAs yoga basics at the camp and how to relieve stress. The party also accused the state government of allotting land to him violating laws.

The Congress has been in a dilemma over what stand to take on Ramdev given the growing popularity of the guru with the Madhya Pradesh establishment. The ruling BJP had invited him to open a Yoga Peeth in the state and asked him to lead the February 15 Surya Namaskar across all government educational institutions in the state.

However, till now Congress leaders avoided commenting on the issue, or sent out a confused message over where they stood on the matter.

The decision to clear the air was apparently prompted by the realisation that the BJP is using the growing popularity of Ramdev to its advantage. His Yoga Shibir in the state capital, organised by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan8217;s wife Sadhana Singh, has been drawing crowds in thousands. From politicians to bureaucrats to IPS officers everyone has been coming to the Lal Parade ground camp, with the Chief Minister and his wife attending daily. The two free sessions, including one for children, also drew a huge response.

But the Sangh Parivar touch is clear, from BJP leaders welcoming Ramdev daily with bouquets at the Shibir to Chouhan8217;s predecessor Babulal Gaur turning up in RSS8217;s khaki shorts and white shirt on Sunday.

The camp concludes tomorrow with a session for the state legislators.

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Today the Congress demanded a probe into the sale of entry tickets for the Lal Parade camp, alleging there was tax evasion. It said the government should make public the number of tickets sold; the volume of medicines sold at the camp; and the tax the government earned.

Leader of Opposition Jamuna Devi said that the government was violating land laws in setting up of the Yoga Peeth because the Chief Minister8217;s wife is the chairperson of the organising committee. 8220;BJP leaders have a stake in the proposed Peeth,8221; she alleged. According to her the government was allotting 1,618 acres in Sihora Tehsil in Jabalpur district by evicting tribals.

She also questioned the government8217;s decision to allow the organising committee to function from government quarters. While Chouhan has gone out of his way to associate his government with Ramdev, of late the yoga guru has been trying to dispel the impression that he is close to the BJP. Besides announcing that the Peeth would pay for the land allotted to it, he also recently gave examples of Congress leaders in other states inviting him to organise camps.