The perfect balance - Ramdev praise for Modi and Mamata

Ramdev walks on his hands at Infocom on
Saturday to show how fit he is. He said he was
nearing 50 and thanked yoga since the age of
nine for having “both my hardware and
software in shape”. Pic: Mayukh Sengupta 

Meghdeep Bhattacharyya,TT, Calcutta, Dec. 3: Yoga televangelist Ramdev today lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "courage" in taking the demonetisation decision but struck a deft balance by refusing to question the motive behind Mamata Banerjee's opposition, saying "she is doing what she is doing because of the problems the common people are facing".

"It (demonetisation) is a historic, courageous, long-term decision with a far-reaching positive impact," Ramdev told this newspaper on the sidelines of Infocom, the business, technology and leadership conference organised by the ABP Group, which publishes The Telegraph.

Claiming ownership of the idea of demonetisation, the "unpaid ambassador" of Patanjali said the slump in the markets was temporary and the nation would eventually benefit.

"Three months will be challenging, yes. But in the next fiscal, the GDP and the growth rate will go up, the currency will appreciate," he added.

Ramdev said he had given the idea to UPA stalwarts seven years ago and none had opposed it. He said Pranab Mukherjee, now President and then minister, had told him it was a "good idea".

"As had the then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, who is known for his silence. He too had said it's the correct step. You can go and ask him whether it's true or not.... That he has started talking over this is also historic," he said during a session titled "Self-transformation leading to societal transformation".

He claimed that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had told him that "the logic" of demonetisation was "right".

"Modiji yog kartey hain, weh abhi Pradhan Mantri hain. Rahulji viyog kartey hain, weh wahin ke wahin reh gaye (Modi does yoga, he is now Prime Minister. Rahul does not, he is where he was)," he added.

Ramdev said he did not think Mamata was opposed to demonetisation in principle and believed that her movement was for the sake of the masses,

"She is doing what she is doing because of the problems the common people are facing. The glitches in the procedure, the lack of money in ATMs, the long queues outside banks.... Otherwise, I don't think she has a stake in it," he added.

"Mamataji's individual life is impressive and her simplicity commands respect. She wears Hawaii chappals and saris worth Rs 200. She lives in a small hut. I do not have any questions about her integrity or her own life," Ramdev said.

Some BJP leaders have been attributing her opposition to demonetisation to alleged corruption and possession of black money but they have not furnished any evidence to substantiate the allegations.

Earlier in the day, after a meeting with governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, Ramdev said he neither believed Mamata had black money nor did he think she was fighting in favour of black money.

Asked if he thought the Bengal chief minister's movement was aimed at securing her a place in national politics, he said: "If somebody has the desire to be more relevant to national politics, it is all right."

He added: "There cannot be any question regarding her political credibility. If the son of a chaiwala can become Prime Minister, Mamataji can also become Prime Minister."

When a member of the audience asked if he personally harboured political ambitions, Ramdev ruled out full-time, mainstream politics.

"Yoga and karmyoga, I live by these. I am also a conscious citizen who loves this country a great deal. When there is a political crisis affecting statecraft, I raise my voice. I will never contest elections," he said.

Asked whether demonetisation had affected Patanjali Ayurved, Ramdev said: "Patanjali's growth has increased all over. I have been conducting meetings all over the country. We are doing even better."

He said Patanjali was in the process of setting up a special economic zone over 100 acres in Nagpur, which would serve as its hub for exports.

In response to a question on his plans for Bengal, he said he was looking at a wide range of sectors, from rice-based products to textiles.

"I will not neglect this holy land. The British empire derived a chunk of its wealth by robbing Bengal. I will do my bit for Bengal to flourish again," he said.