New Delhi:
Digvijaya Singh has advised spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar that the BJP will try to exploit him by urging him to launch a movement against corruption.
Mr Singh, a senior Congress leader, tweeted today - "Plan A - Baba Ramdev. Crashed. Plan B- Anna. ? Plan C - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar soon to start his campaign."
The politician believes that the BJP and its parent body, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) are backing movements by civil society activists to " divert the minds of the people from their involvement in terror activities to corruption." Mr Singh said he has heard from reliable sources that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is about to lead a new campaign against graft. "I hold Sri Ravi Shankarji in high esteem and have done a course in the Art of Living as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in 2001. He should be wary of the Sangh and BJP," he said.
In Gujarat, the man who Mr Singh refers to as the BJP's Plan C asked if Mr Singh's ability to predict his future actions means the politican has become a fortune-teller. He said he has always been committed to fighting corruption - "if this is a crime, then I will keep committing it," he said.
Sri Sri, who founded the Art of Living Foundation in 1981, was prominent during protests against the government organized by yoga guru Baba Ramdev and activist Anna Hazare. He was seen often at the camps held by both men at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. He also played a key role in the government's negotiations with Anna when the Gandhian undertook an epic fast in August to demand the urgent delivery of the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill.
In a press statement released today, the Art of Living Foundation said, "A law alone cannot bring down corruption. A moral and spiritual wave has to be created. Sri Sri has been speaking against corruption and will continue to fight against corruption. Even yesterday, he administered oath to 1 lakh people to not give or take bribe. "
The BJP said Mr Singh's comments against Sri Sri prove the Congress leader wants to discredit anyone who tries to take on the government for its disinterest in checking graft.
"I compliment Digvijaya Singh for his important plan of almost shameless way of demonizing all those who are fighting against corruption. Good luck to him. The more he speaks, more the Congress will lose its credibility," said the party's Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Baba Ramdev was holding a massive sit-in protest at Ramlila Maidan in June this year when the police decided to break up the camp late at night with a lathi-charge and water cannons. Baba Ramdev had been urging the government to take urgent steps to recover undeclared income or black money held by Indians in foreign bank accounts. The police action at his camp came after talks broke down between senior ministers and the yoga guru. He was arrested and flown out of Delhi.
Anna, 74, has become the fulcrum for a massive national campaign against corruption. His advisors and aides, referred to as Team Anna, have been demanding that Parliament urgently pass the Lokpal Bill, named for the ombudsman agency that it creates to check graft among public servants. Team Anna has said that while it does not side with any political party, it will target the Congress in upcoming elections, because as the main party in the coalition at the Centre, the Congress must take responsibility for delivering an effective law against graft.
Mr Singh and Anna have exchanged a series of letters recently. Mr Singh has said that Anna must acknowledge that his campaign is backed by the RSS. Anna has denied this charge, and his group says it welcomes the support of any party that is committed to the Lokpal Bill.