PM meets cabinet colleagues on Ramdev issue

PM meets cabinet colleagues on Ramdev issue

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday night held a meeting with his cabinet colleagues who had earlier tried to persuade yoga guru Baba Ramdev to withdraw his call for an indefinite fast from 4th June.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal briefed Singh on their discussions with Ramdev during the meeting that lasted over an hour.

The leaders are also understood to have discussed the yoga guru's proposals and ways to defuse the situation. Cabinet Secretary K M Chandraseker and Principal Secretary to the PM T K A Nair were also present in the meeting in which Singh was briefed about the parleys held Ramdev.

Next round of talks between govt and Ramdev on 3rd June: PC

The next round of talks between the govt and Baba Ramdev will be held on Friday to further discuss the latter's proposed satyagraha from Saturday, Home Minister P Chidambaram said.

"I am told that they have agreed to meet again on June 3 to continue the discussions and I will advise everyone to observe restraint," he said, but refused to give any details noting that Human Resource Minister Kapil Sibal has already briefed the press on the issue.

The government has gone all out to woo Ramdev, who arrived by chartered jet from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and was met by four senior Cabinet Ministers in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Baba Ramdev has threatened to go on satyagraha (protest fast) in Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi and has claimed that he will be joined by people in 624 districts across the country.