New Delhi, June 12: Political parties were relieved that Ramdev ended his nine-day fast against corruption today even as Congress said it played no role in the yoga guru's decision.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, a vocal critic of Ramdev, however dubbed as ‘nautanki'(drama) the fast but said he was neverthless “very happy” it had come to an end. He also said there was no need for any further talks with the yoga exponent since most of his demands had been met.
Singh's party colleague and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, whose airport visit here for talks with Ramdev created a controversy, expressed relief.
“Thank God that he has given up his fast. I pray to God for his health,” Mukherjee said in Kolkata.
Asked to comment on Ramdev's decision to continue his agitation against corruption, he said, “He can fight. I do not have a problem if anyone decides to agitate.”
BJP expressed “satisfaction” over Ramdev's decision while maintaining that the government's inaction to bring back Indian blackmoney stashed abroad was “unacceptable”.
BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said the party has a “sense of satisfaction” at Ramdev's decision following pleas by eminent saints and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
Congress came out with a guarded response saying the decision is “good news” but said the party had played no role in it.
“It is good news that Ramdev has broken his fast,” Congress General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said.
Another party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, however, reacted cautiously to the development saying the decision was Ramdev's own and “Congress has nothing to do with it...But it is good for his health. He should have listened to medical advice earlier.” PTI
