Zeenews Bureau
Dehradun: Amid reports that the Centre is in no mood to relent to Baba Ramdev’s demands on black money, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar met the yoga guru on Saturday to try and persuade him to end his fast.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ravishankar said that Baba Ramdev continues to be adamant and is refusing to end is fast despite his health condition being worrisome.
“He cannot talk much, but he is better than yesterday,” he said.
On reports suggesting that he is mediating between the Centre and Ramdev, Sri Sri said, “No one has asked me to mediate. If they (Centre) ask me to, then I will talk to Baba.”
However, he did indicate that he is on a mission to ensure that Ramdev ends his fast. “I will make him end his fast. If he is adamant then I am also adamant,” Ravishankar said.
“I told him (Ramdev) that lakhs of his supporters love him and where there is love, being adamant won’t work,” he added.
When asked about how long he intends to stay here, Sri Sri said he is not going anywhere atleast till tomorrow.
The spiritual leader met Ramdev at the Himalayan Medical Institute where the yoga guru is kept under observation - his fast entered the eighth day today.
Today’s meeting is the second between the two in as many days. The Bangalore-based spiritual guru had come to Haridwar to perform the last rites of his father.
As per media reports, although the Centre is keen to avoid any further embarrassment over the issue but is also unwilling to be seen as buckling under pressure from the fasting Baba.
Yesterday, after meeting Ramdev, Ravishankar had termed the developments as “very unfortunate” and that he will “talk to Centre” about the issue.
His subtle hint that he is playing the role of a mediator between Ramdev and the government gained credence after reports emerged that Law Minister Veerappa Moily is in touch with Sri Sri over the issue.
The Congress had a very public showdown with Ramdev when he and his supporters were booted out of the Ramila Maidan in Delhi in the intervening night of June 4-5, the yoga guru has been on fast since then.
Social activist Swami Agnivesh – a key member of the Anna Hazare camp – had also met Pranab Mukherjee and offered to mediate.
Mukherjee had a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well, where is said to have briefed him about the steps being taken to break the deadlock.
First Published: Saturday, June 11, 2011, 16:32