War of words between Cong and BJP over Ramdev issue

The political battle over Baba Ramdev intensified today with the Congress asserting that it will deal sternly with forces of communalism and anarchy while BJP knocked at the President's door demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss black money.

A day after the forcible shutting of the protest by Ramdev by Delhi police in Ramlila Maidan, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance asking the Government why the yoga guru was evicted from his camp in Delhi on Saturday.

In Haridwar, Ramdev resumed his fast vowing to continue his 'satyagraha' till the Government accepts his demands on curbing corruption and black money.

Facing the heat, Congress asserted in Delhi that it will deal firmly with communal forces and others wanting to destabilise the government.

Mincing no words, party spokesperson Janardhan Dwidedi accused the BJP of trying to foment trouble to return to power at the Centre.

He also lashed out at the BJP for comparing Ramdev with Mahatma Gandhi and Vivekananda.

High drama was witnessed at the press briefing when a person posing as a journalist tried to attack Dwidedi with a shoe. He was immediately taken into custody.

Taking on Ramdev, Dwidedi said a man who claims to be saint tried to escape in a woman's dress. "Satyagrahis don't run away wearing woman's clothes. They fight," he said.

Ramdev had nearly given the police a slip after jumping from a three-metre high podium. He had melted into the crowd of supporters and changed into a salwar-kameez, acting like an injured woman, before he was spotted.

Stepping up its offensive againt the UPA government, a delegation of BJP-led NDA met President Pratibha Patil to demand convening of a special session of Parliament to discuss the issue of black money and police action against Ramdev and his supporters