New Delhi, Aug 14: Congress today said that Baba Ramdev should have seriously studied the White Paper issued by the government on black money before launching his agitation.
“Had he read the White Paper properly, there would have been no need for this agitation, though, we believe everybody has the right to express one's views and agitate in a democracy”, said Manish Tewary, party spokesperson.
Tewary turned on the NDA and said, it should itself clarify what steps it took during its regime to bring back offshore black money.
Today, at Ambedkar Stadium, during his closing speech to his supporters, Ramdev described the White Paper as a “Jhoot Patra” (paper of lies).
“We are not leaving this place defeated but we are going as victorious. We have made all parties come together (on the issue of black money). We have not targeted or tarnished Congress. It was their own doing.
“The government said they have brought out a White Paper but what they have brought out is a false paper,” Ramdev said. Attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Ramdev asked him to show “political will and honesty” in brining back black money stashed abroad.
“He (Singh) should show political will and honesty and if he does not show it, he will be deemed as corrupt. If he can't remain politically honest then he should leave the post,” Ramdev said.
The yoga guru also said that if he had wanted he could have stopped the Prime Minister from hoisting the national flag tomorrow but added that it was not the “right thing” to do.
Holding the Congress responsible for price rise and poverty, he asked people not to vote for the party in the next Lok Sabha polls.
“We have decided not to vote for Congress. The party has made us poor and put us in poverty. You have to tell people that it is Congress which has pushed you to poverty and is responsible for price rise.
“Next time in the elections, we should ensure that not a single Congress leader gets elected to Parliament. Who to vote for? We will tell you later. We have to vote for those who will bring back black money stashed abroad,” he said, adding the fast has just been suspended and the fight on the issue will continue.
Ramdev held an early morning strategy session with his close aides to fine tune the future course of his protest. He had last night rejected an appeal by police to vacate the stadium flagging concerns ahead of Independence Day as the facility was near Red Fort where the national celebrations will take place tomorrow.
The yoga guru was arrested during a march to Parliament but late in the night he refused to quit the stadium from where he and his few thousand supporters were released.
