Govt. crackdown on Ramdev kills purpose of democracy: Hazare

New Delhi, June 5 (ANI): Condemning the crackdown on yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his supporters at Delhi's Ramlila ground, veteran social activist Anna Hazare today said the misbehaviour on the part of the government has killed the very purpose of democracy in the nation.

"I am not denying that there might be some problem with Baba Ramdev's demonstration at the Ramlila ground. However, the way the Delhi police behaved against women and small children is a black mark against democracy," said Hazare.

"The whole country is against this. It was wrong to baton charge the women," he added.

Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal justifying the government's stand earlier in the day, said Ramdev politicized the whole issue.

"He had promised only for yoga and the crowd would not exceed 5,000. But around 50,000 persons were present. We had accepted all his demands in written. But Ramdev did not keep up his promise and politicized the issue. He cheated all his supporters," Sibal told reporters here.

"Baba turned his yoga session into a political stage. Now, it's clear that Ramdev is the another face of RSS," he added.

Ramdev, who was evicted from Delhi's Ramlila ground along with thousands of his supporters in a midnight drama last night, was flown by a special plane to Dehradun from New Delhi's Palam Airport this morning.

On his arrival at the Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun, Ramdev proceeded to his ashram in Haridwar.

The talks between the Central Government and Ramdev crashed last night with both sides citing betrayal.

The cabinet ministers, who were making all attempts to persuade Ramdev to give up his fast said that he had promised he would end his fast last evening. A letter was produced in this regard.

Ramdev, however, said the government was lying, and added that the letter had been conditional upon the government agreeing to his list of demands.

Ramdev started his indefinite 'fast-unto-death' stir on Saturday to demand several radical reforms in the prevailing political system, including a death penalty for corrupt officials. (ANI)