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Ramdev: The muckraking season begins
by Guest Sat Jun 11, 2011 6:08 pm
Anyone who talks of corruption and seeks to position himself on an anti-corruption platform must himself be beyond any charges of corruption and wrongdoing.
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Baba’s Pot Of Gold
* Donations to his trusts
* Yoga camps where a front-row seat can cost Rs 30,000
* Rs 11 lakh for corporate ashram membership
* A multi-speciality hospital in Haridwar
* Patanjali University that teaches ayurveda and yoga
* Sales of ayurvedic medicines
* Aastha, a spirituality channel
***
Having unleashed the ongoing anti-corruption campaign, Baba Ramdev, one of its principal architects, now finds himself under the scanner. Allegations of misdeeds against him and his associates are mounting by the day even as the yoga guru continues to try and arm-twist the government on recovering black money stashed abroad. Given this scenario the question on everyone’s mind is: how did Ramdev, who moved around on a bicycle about a decade ago, build a Rs 1,100-crore empire without black money? “This is something that has to be investigated,” says Baba Hathyogi, spokesperson of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, an apex body of sadhus.
Top on the list of allegations is that money donated to his trusts (which is tax-exempt) has been funnelled by Ramdev to launch over 40 profit-oriented private firms that deal in herbal therapy, organic food and even broadcasting. While these accusations are yet to be substantiated, there is evidence of how Ramdev and his associates tried to evade stamp duty on land purchased in Haridwar. Papers available with Outlook show that the Haridwar SDM court had in August 2010 ordered Patanjali Ayurved Limited (PAL), one of the myriad firms in his empire, to cough up over Rs 45 lakh for failing to pay the required duties. The firm had countered that the purchased land was meant for cultivating ayurvedic plants—a farming activity. But the local administration found no farming done on the plots. The baba’s spokesperson, S.K. Tijarawala, couldn’t be reached by phone and did not respond to text messages.
The Haridwar-based Yog Gram, a resort promoted by Ramdev, is also embroiled in controversy—for illegally occupying plots of around 43 bighas. Occupied for nearly four years now, they lie scattered across the Yog Gram campus and belong to the neighbouring Aurangabad gram sabha villagers. Now infrastructure has been built on it, which has led to the villagers agitating. Finally, in May this year Ramdev was forced to offer land elsewhere in exchange, but the locals aren’t biting. As villager Ajab Singh Chauhan says, “We want our land back and we demand that the infrastructure on it be pulled down.” Haridwar SDM Harbir Singh feels the counter-offer came too late. “Maybe he was too busy to think of it,” he says.
This February, four Congress MLAs from Uttarakhand wrote to Ramdev asking that he subject himself to a CBI inquiry given the numerous allegations that have sprung up. “Cows in Uttarakhand probably don’t even drink that much water as the amount of cow urine he claims to sell,” says MLA Kishore Upadhyay. There are more worms in the Ramdev can. His principal associate Acharya Balkrishna, who is of Nepalese origin and holds Rs 3.10 of the 3.47 crore shares of PAL, is being probed for procuring an Indian passport and arms licences using false information.
The Ramdev saga has also implicated Congress leaders like Subodh Kant Sahay and N.D. Tiwari, who are close to him and have been accused of generously helping the baba. To this charge, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh reacts, “Not just Ramdev, anybody who has done something illegal, even if it’s me, has to be investigated.” As we go to press, the guru has issued a statement denying any wrongdoing and insisting his books are clean. But with IT and ED sleuths hot on his trail, it looks like the muckraking season is just beginning.
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?277170
-------------
Baba’s Pot Of Gold
* Donations to his trusts
* Yoga camps where a front-row seat can cost Rs 30,000
* Rs 11 lakh for corporate ashram membership
* A multi-speciality hospital in Haridwar
* Patanjali University that teaches ayurveda and yoga
* Sales of ayurvedic medicines
* Aastha, a spirituality channel
***
Having unleashed the ongoing anti-corruption campaign, Baba Ramdev, one of its principal architects, now finds himself under the scanner. Allegations of misdeeds against him and his associates are mounting by the day even as the yoga guru continues to try and arm-twist the government on recovering black money stashed abroad. Given this scenario the question on everyone’s mind is: how did Ramdev, who moved around on a bicycle about a decade ago, build a Rs 1,100-crore empire without black money? “This is something that has to be investigated,” says Baba Hathyogi, spokesperson of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, an apex body of sadhus.
Top on the list of allegations is that money donated to his trusts (which is tax-exempt) has been funnelled by Ramdev to launch over 40 profit-oriented private firms that deal in herbal therapy, organic food and even broadcasting. While these accusations are yet to be substantiated, there is evidence of how Ramdev and his associates tried to evade stamp duty on land purchased in Haridwar. Papers available with Outlook show that the Haridwar SDM court had in August 2010 ordered Patanjali Ayurved Limited (PAL), one of the myriad firms in his empire, to cough up over Rs 45 lakh for failing to pay the required duties. The firm had countered that the purchased land was meant for cultivating ayurvedic plants—a farming activity. But the local administration found no farming done on the plots. The baba’s spokesperson, S.K. Tijarawala, couldn’t be reached by phone and did not respond to text messages.
The Haridwar-based Yog Gram, a resort promoted by Ramdev, is also embroiled in controversy—for illegally occupying plots of around 43 bighas. Occupied for nearly four years now, they lie scattered across the Yog Gram campus and belong to the neighbouring Aurangabad gram sabha villagers. Now infrastructure has been built on it, which has led to the villagers agitating. Finally, in May this year Ramdev was forced to offer land elsewhere in exchange, but the locals aren’t biting. As villager Ajab Singh Chauhan says, “We want our land back and we demand that the infrastructure on it be pulled down.” Haridwar SDM Harbir Singh feels the counter-offer came too late. “Maybe he was too busy to think of it,” he says.
This February, four Congress MLAs from Uttarakhand wrote to Ramdev asking that he subject himself to a CBI inquiry given the numerous allegations that have sprung up. “Cows in Uttarakhand probably don’t even drink that much water as the amount of cow urine he claims to sell,” says MLA Kishore Upadhyay. There are more worms in the Ramdev can. His principal associate Acharya Balkrishna, who is of Nepalese origin and holds Rs 3.10 of the 3.47 crore shares of PAL, is being probed for procuring an Indian passport and arms licences using false information.
The Ramdev saga has also implicated Congress leaders like Subodh Kant Sahay and N.D. Tiwari, who are close to him and have been accused of generously helping the baba. To this charge, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh reacts, “Not just Ramdev, anybody who has done something illegal, even if it’s me, has to be investigated.” As we go to press, the guru has issued a statement denying any wrongdoing and insisting his books are clean. But with IT and ED sleuths hot on his trail, it looks like the muckraking season is just beginning.
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?277170
Guest- Guest
Re: Ramdev: The muckraking season begins
by charvaka Sat Jun 11, 2011 6:44 pm
The title is good, because it indicates a realization on your part of exactly that it is what you are doing. I can understand that it is tempting to attack the messenger rather than focus on the message... particularly if the messenger is not someone whose other views we don't like.
Very good point. Now, look at the recent pronouncements of the people running the country -- both from Congress and BJP. They are all talking about corruption. And they are not exactly "beyond any charges of corruption and wrongdoing." Instead of focusing on them, our media is happy to focus on an inconsequential idiot who is desperately trying to become popular. The irony is, the more the government and the elites obsess about him, the more popular they risk making him!Rashmun wrote:Anyone who talks of corruption and seeks to position himself on an anti-corruption platform must himself be beyond any charges of corruption and wrongdoing.
charvaka- Posts : 4347
Join date : 2011-04-28
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Re: Ramdev: The muckraking season begins
by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Sat Jun 11, 2011 6:46 pm
Sorry your argument does not count. Rashmunullah's cut paste news can be used only to attack non-congress people.
after all, MT Sonia ji does not have much wealth.
after all, MT Sonia ji does not have much wealth.
Marathadi-Saamiyaar- Posts : 17675
Join date : 2011-04-30
Age : 110
Re: Ramdev: The muckraking season begins
by Guest Sat Jun 11, 2011 6:58 pm
charvaka wrote:The title is good, because it indicates a realization on your part of exactly that it is what you are doing. I can understand that it is tempting to attack the messenger rather than focus on the message... particularly if the messenger is not someone whose other views we don't like.Very good point. Now, look at the recent pronouncements of the people running the country -- both from Congress and BJP. They are all talking about corruption. And they are not exactly "beyond any charges of corruption and wrongdoing." Instead of focusing on them, our media is happy to focus on an inconsequential idiot who is desperately trying to become popular. The irony is, the more the government and the elites obsess about him, the more popular they risk making him!Rashmun wrote:Anyone who talks of corruption and seeks to position himself on an anti-corruption platform must himself be beyond any charges of corruption and wrongdoing.
--> Ramdev is not exactly inconsequential. There are many people supportive of him and his trusts are worth more than a thousand crores on which he pays no taxes even though he has various commercial businesses. Sometimes its better to ignore crooks, at other times its better to expose them.
Of course, Brand Ramdev is now going to take a hit. Muck thrown on someone who claims to be above board is bound to stick, particularly when it is a case of legitimate muck throwing.
--> BJP and Congress are also not beyond charges of corruption but the people know about this. A fraud sadhu who represents certain political interests and who attempts to become the mascot of an anti-corruption drive by befooling the common people is something that can potentially have more dangerous consequences.
Guest- Guest
Re: Ramdev: The muckraking season begins
by charvaka Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:29 pm
So, help me understand this. Ramdev evades taxes on his crores of rupees, by using nonprofit trusts. And our political leaders directly steal larger sums from the taxpayer. And you think the former is more dangerous than the latter? If one went solely by what you say about all this, one would think the only real / big problem facing India right now is how Ramdev acquired his ill-gotten wealth and evaded income taxes on it. You don't seem to think there is a bigger problem of political corruption wherein much larger sums of money are directly stolen from taxpayer funds.
This reminds me of the redoubtable Sevaji. He believes that the only problem vis-a-vis caste in India is that the government discriminates against "upper" castes people through reservations. He thinks if reservations are scrapped, there won't be any caste issue at all.
This reminds me of the redoubtable Sevaji. He believes that the only problem vis-a-vis caste in India is that the government discriminates against "upper" castes people through reservations. He thinks if reservations are scrapped, there won't be any caste issue at all.
charvaka- Posts : 4347
Join date : 2011-04-28
Location : Berkeley, CA
Re: Ramdev: The muckraking season begins
by Guest Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:59 pm
charvaka wrote:So, help me understand this. Ramdev evades taxes on his crores of rupees, by using nonprofit trusts. And our political leaders directly steal larger sums from the taxpayer. And you think the former is more dangerous than the latter? If one went solely by what you say about all this, one would think the only real / big problem facing India right now is how Ramdev acquired his ill-gotten wealth and evaded income taxes on it. You don't seem to think there is a bigger problem of political corruption wherein much larger sums of money are directly stolen from taxpayer funds.
This reminds me of the redoubtable Sevaji. He believes that the only problem vis-a-vis caste in India is that the government discriminates against "upper" castes people through reservations. He thinks if reservations are scrapped, there won't be any caste issue at all.
My problem with religious and spiritual people trying to grab a slice of the political pie is the danger of India becoming another Iran. Religious and spiritual people ought to stay away from politics in my opinion.
Guest- Guest
Re: Ramdev: The muckraking season begins
by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Sat Jun 11, 2011 8:11 pm
Rashmun wrote:
--> Ramdev is not exactly inconsequential. There are many people supportive of him and his trusts are worth more than a thousand crores on which he pays no taxes even though he has various commercial businesses. Sometimes its better to ignore crooks, at other times its better to expose them.
In other words, your priority is the Corrupt Ramdev hoarding 1000 crores - NOT the 2G Scammers' 115,000 crores scandal, not 50,000 crore corruption of the Reddy's, not how Jagan reddy OFFICIALLY worth 300 crores, not 5000 crores were swallowed during the Asian games, and certainly not 500 crores made by Mayawati. How about you launch a Dharm Yudh against Nityananda's 3000 crore empire, Sai baba's 10,000 crore empire, and Ravi Shankar Ratnam's empire? Oh...they have not committed the sin of questioning MT Sonia ji.... Child...You are so principled... I am impressed.
Go baba... Go baba... Go Baba....
Son: please continue your Dharm Yudh against anti-corruption corrupt forces.
Marathadi-Saamiyaar- Posts : 17675
Join date : 2011-04-30
Age : 110
Re: Ramdev: The muckraking season begins
by Guest Sat Jun 11, 2011 8:20 pm
Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:Rashmun wrote:
--> Ramdev is not exactly inconsequential. There are many people supportive of him and his trusts are worth more than a thousand crores on which he pays no taxes even though he has various commercial businesses. Sometimes its better to ignore crooks, at other times its better to expose them.
In other words, your priority is the Corrupt Ramdev hoarding 1000 crores - NOT the 2G Scammers' 115,000 crores scandal, not 50,000 crore corruption of the Reddy's, not how Jagan reddy OFFICIALLY worth 300 crores, not 5000 crores were swallowed during the Asian games, and certainly not 500 crores made by Mayawati. How about you launch a Dharm Yudh against Nityananda's 3000 crore empire, Sai baba's 10,000 crore empire, and Ravi Shankar Ratnam's empire? Oh...they have not committed the sin of questioning MT Sonia ji.... Child...You are so principled... I am impressed.
Go baba... Go baba... Go Baba....
Son: please continue your Dharm Yudh against anti-corruption corrupt forces.
The crooks you mention have one or both of the following characteristics:
1. They are not spiritual/religious figures and/or
2. They make no attempt to spearhead an anti-corruption movement
Guest- Guest
Re: Ramdev: The muckraking season begins
by charvaka Sat Jun 11, 2011 8:42 pm
Iran does routinely use arguments like "a small spark would have caused a conflagration" in order to justify violent crackdowns on peaceful protests. That's the irony of knee-jerk reactions to religious figures taking on political agendas!Rashmun wrote:My problem with religious and spiritual people trying to grab a slice of the political pie is the danger of India becoming another Iran.
charvaka- Posts : 4347
Join date : 2011-04-28
Location : Berkeley, CA
Re: Ramdev: The muckraking season begins
by Guest Sat Jun 11, 2011 8:51 pm
charvaka wrote:Iran does routinely use arguments like "a small spark would have caused a conflagration" in order to justify violent crackdowns on peaceful protests. That's the irony of knee-jerk reactions to religious figures taking on political agendas!Rashmun wrote:My problem with religious and spiritual people trying to grab a slice of the political pie is the danger of India becoming another Iran.
I will stick to my stand that religion and politics should not be allowed to mix and that religious figures should avoid taking on political agendas. We must not forget that our country got divided because of the mixing of religion and politics.
Guest- Guest
Re: Ramdev: The muckraking season begins
by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Sat Jun 11, 2011 9:29 pm
Rashmun wrote:Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:Rashmun wrote:
--> Ramdev is not exactly inconsequential. There are many people supportive of him and his trusts are worth more than a thousand crores on which he pays no taxes even though he has various commercial businesses. Sometimes its better to ignore crooks, at other times its better to expose them.
In other words, your priority is the Corrupt Ramdev hoarding 1000 crores - NOT the 2G Scammers' 115,000 crores scandal, not 50,000 crore corruption of the Reddy's, not how Jagan reddy OFFICIALLY worth 300 crores, not 5000 crores were swallowed during the Asian games, and certainly not 500 crores made by Mayawati. How about you launch a Dharm Yudh against Nityananda's 3000 crore empire, Sai baba's 10,000 crore empire, and Ravi Shankar Ratnam's empire? Oh...they have not committed the sin of questioning MT Sonia ji.... Child...You are so principled... I am impressed.
Go baba... Go baba... Go Baba....
Son: please continue your Dharm Yudh against anti-corruption corrupt forces.
The crooks you mention have one or both of the following characteristics:
1. They are not spiritual/religious figures and/or
2. They make no attempt to spearhead an anti-corruption movement
1. You mean you are concerned only about corruption by the religious leaders ? Thot that is why theGovt. is there to prosecute any corrupt swamy - like they did Nityananda, Sai baba, and Kanchi.
2. You mean as long as the CORRUPT Reddys, Sonias and Marans don't launch an anti-corrupt movement, they are free to practice their profession of Corruption ? OR, swamys and religious figures have no democratic rights to spearhead anti-corruption movement ?
Marathadi-Saamiyaar- Posts : 17675
Join date : 2011-04-30
Age : 110
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