Ramdev dissatisfied with Modi govt on black money issue

He also took a dig at Congress over plans to elevate Rahul Gandhi as the party president

Yoga guru Ramdev on Sunday voiced dissatisfaction over "lack of effective steps" being taken by the Centre to bring back the black money stashed abroad. "Because of lack of effective steps (by the government) on the black money issue, I and people of the country are dissatisfied,” Ramdev said.

"I have spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and BJP President Amit Shah on this issue. When people are listening in Parliament then we should not speak on the street. At least they are listening," Ramdev said. The yoga guru, however, praised the central government for carrying out development projects and its zero tolerance policy on corruption.

“In Modi government, Railway minister Suresh Prabhu has been working in a big way. Transport minister Nitin Gadkari is also doing a commendable job on road projects. Because of zero tolerance policy of the government on corruption, steps are being taken against corrupt people,” said Ramdev.

In December last year, Ramdev had spoken out against NDA government's initiatives to bring back blackmoney from foreign countries but hoped that it will soon act on the issue. On the controversy revolving over film Udta Punjab, Ramdev said he could not comment on the matter as he does not watch movies. "But the use of drugs in the country is growing which should be stopped and efforts are required to be made by everybody in this regard," he said. On Congress' proposed protest against drug menace and "deteriorating" law and order situation in the state on Monday at Jalandhar which will be led by party's vice President Rahul Gandhi, Ramdev said, "one should first ask him (Rahul) whether he took drugs in his life ever."

He also took a dig at Congress over plans to elevate Rahul Gandhi as party president.

"If they make Rahul Gandhi the President of the party, the BJP workers shall become lazy as they will have to put in less hard work. But if they chose to make Priyanka as President then BJP people will have to do Yoga," he said in a lighter vein.

On RJD chief Lalu Prasad lauding him last month for attaining "huge" success through "sheer hard work", Ramdev said, "some people cannot digest as Lalu ji has stopped abusing Ramdev."