Haridwar/New Delhi:
The confrontation between the government and Baba Ramdev is escalating rapidly. At his ashram in Haridwar, the yoga icon said he has resume his indefinite hunger strike against corruption - and then he proceeded to attack the government again for dismantling his camp on Saturday night where 65,000 people had gathered before they were lathicharged and tear gassed by the Delhi Police.
The Baba himself was evicted and then flown back to his headquarters on the government's orders.
In Delhi, the Supreme Court asked the government to explain its action - at a characteristically lengthy speech in Uttarakhand, the Baba said he is grateful for the court's intervention.
He also said he rejects the Delhi Police's version of events. "The Delhi Police is lying. They beat up people. They said that people were injured in a stampede. None of our workers provoked violence." He also said "the Mahatma would be crying" about the government's treatment of the women and children who he claims were attacked on Saturday night.
The government has banned the Baba from entering Delhi for the next 15 days. While the yoga teacher is accustomed to whipping up crowds that run into thousands, he now faces the unique problem of where to set up a new base camp for his "satyagraha against corruption." He was hoping to bring his movement to Noida in Uttar Pradesh -but Chief Minister Mayawati has rejected that proposal on the grounds that it could lead to a law and order problem.
The government's action against Baba Ramdev has provided the Opposition - in particular the BJP - with a huge new rallying point. Various leaders - including the government's standard emergency contact Mulayam Singh Yadav- have attacked the government for its attempt to "murder democracy."
Some have also questioned the government for striking a secret deal with the Baba before his fast began - and not disclosing this to the public. The Baba's critics have also raised this point. On Friday evening, after a five-hour discussion, senior ministers Kapil Sibal and Subodhkant Sahay allegedly struck an agreement with the Baba. They agreed to most of his conditions and the need to urgently recover black money and declare it a national asset; he said he'd call off his fast early on Saturday evening.
But when the deadline approached, it became clear that the Baba had no intention of ending his strike. Mr Sibal released a pact signed by the Baba's deputy which committed to a brief hunger strike. The government's intent was to prove the Baba was reneging on his deal. An aide of the Baba, Devendra Sharma, however, told NDTV that the letter was used as a tactical move to ensure that the government did not force the Baba to cancel his camp.
The warfare between the government and Baba Ramdev is entering a take-no-prisoners phase. He now faces heat from the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax which are studying the financial records of nearly 200 companies that are owned by the Baba's trust.