Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar has expressed his reservations about the Government’s political judgement and called its actions arrogant and out of touch.
“It is unimaginable that a popular movement is being blocked like this,” Ravishankar, one of the founding members of the India Against Corruption alliance, said. “So many blunders are being committed. The government is getting the wrong advice.”
He said the government’s talks and actions “smacked of arrogance.”
He warned the government against equating the Hazare and IAC movement with that of Ramdev’s, which was forcibly dispersed in June.
“They thought that when they crushed the Ramdev movement, it would be possible to crush this one also. This is like rubbing salt in the wound of people who are smarting from corruption scandals,” he said.
Sri Sri, a Yoga teacher and spiritual advisor to millions of Indians, is one of the rare spiritual leaders to combine a successful business franchise and also be active in political movements. Many spiritual leaders keep well clear of politics, partly because of their convictions and partly because of the unsavory reputation of Politics in India.
Ravishankar also urged people to maintain the non-violent nature of the protests, but urged the Government to enter into talks with the IAC.
“I am concerned that there is a limit to their patience,” he said, talking about the large crowds that have so far not caused even a single incident of violence in the country.
“Not everyone is a saint. It is a time when anti-social elements can take advantage of it,” he worried.
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