Yoga guru Swami Ramdev has said that the next Lok Sabha elections will be a ‘mahasangram' (great battle) between the forces of good and evil. There will be many like Drona and Bhishma who will be in the other camp but will have sympathy with our case, said the yoga guru.
Pressed by Rajat Sharma in India TV's long-running talk show Aap Ki Adalat about the date of launch of his party, Swami Ramdev evaded saying: “I do believe in ganit jyotish (mathematical astrology), but not in the tantra-mantra mumbo-jumbo. I believe in karma”.
He however revealed that his mission would begin from Goa followed by 10 big camps involving lakhs of supporters to launch his political movement.
Asked about his agenda, the swami said, it would be based on anti-Westernisation, stress on Indianisation and holistic spiritual development, shunning religious bigotry. Ramdev said, his party would try to bring trillions of rupees of black money stashed abroad and spend them on the poor and downtrodden.
The swami took potshots at Lalu Prasad, Nitin Gadkari and Mayawati. He said: ‘I do not need certificates from politicians. Laluji is not my political adviser. I will do whatever is right in the national interest'.
On Mayawati's remarks that a swami doing exercise and dispensing medicines had no business indulging in politics, Swami Ramdev said, ‘Is doing exercise or giving medicines a crime? Behen Mayawati should herself do some anulom-vilom and kapal bhati. The country's wealth should be spent on millions of poor Dalits and not on a single individual's prestige. I have told my followers to go to dalit bastis, teach them yoga and make them friends. After all, our ancestors, our blood are the same. I don't believe in castes. Let us be proud of saying, we're one”.
The swami revealed that in a private yoga session with Amitabh Bachchan, he had persuaded the actor to stop doing commercials for cigarettes and cold drinks, which he agreed to.
About Shah Rukh Khan's remark about inducting Pakistani players in IPL, Ramdev said: “Khel se mel nahi hone wala, agar khel se mel hota to kab ka ho chuka hota (Sports is not going to reconcile, had it been so, it would have taken place much earlier)…We want a strong and prosperous India. Only then, not only Pakistan, but even the United States will bow to us”.
Asked whether any female follower or actress ever tried to lure him, Swami Ramdev laughed and said: “It seems I belong to a past world. I consider all women my mother, sister or daughter. The sanskar from parents, the knowledge from my guru and my personal will enable me to face such situations.”
The swami revealed how in Los Angeles, a lady offered to give away herself and properties worth millions to him, and he declined. “Main ne kaha, isse pahle ki aur loss ho jaaye, Los Angeles se bhag chalo”.
