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India PM: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev crackdown 'unfortunate' | India PM: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev crackdown 'unfortunate' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The Indian police crackdown on yoga guru Baba Ramdev's hunger strike against corruption was "unfortunate", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said. | |
But Mr Singh justified the move, saying there had been "no alternative". | |
Police in Delhi broke up the yoga guru's fast over the weekend after angry exchanges with the authorities. | Police in Delhi broke up the yoga guru's fast over the weekend after angry exchanges with the authorities. |
About 30 people were injured as police fired tear gas to disperse thousands of his supporters. An injured woman supporter is in a critical condition. | |
Civil society groups and leading anti-corruption campaigners have condemned the police action against Baba Ramdev and his supporters. | |
In his first remarks on Sunday night's incident, Mr Singh told reporters: "It is unfortunate that the operation had to be conducted, but quite honestly, there was no alternative." | In his first remarks on Sunday night's incident, Mr Singh told reporters: "It is unfortunate that the operation had to be conducted, but quite honestly, there was no alternative." |
He said the government was "serious" about tackling corruption, but there was "no magic wand". | He said the government was "serious" about tackling corruption, but there was "no magic wand". |
The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has criticised Mr Singh's statement, saying it was "insensitive". | The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has criticised Mr Singh's statement, saying it was "insensitive". |
"It is [an] unfortunate, unexpected and bizarre statement made by the prime minister. It's inhuman, insensitive and complete carelessness on the part of the government," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said. | |
Separately, the Supreme Court has directed the government to explain the circumstances leading to the crackdown at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, where the yoga guru and his supporters were fasting. | |
"The brutal force that was used by the police to disperse innocent people who had gathered at the Ramlila Maidan in furtherance of the permission granted by the state is a matter of concern for the court," the court said. | "The brutal force that was used by the police to disperse innocent people who had gathered at the Ramlila Maidan in furtherance of the permission granted by the state is a matter of concern for the court," the court said. |
The government has justified the crackdown on Baba Ramdev's hunger strike, saying he had reneged on his promises during negotiations. | |
Baba Ramdev has vowed to continue his hunger strike against corruption in his home city of Haridwar. He wants suspected bribe money allegedly held overseas to be returned to India. | |
Baba Ramdev, whose daily TV programme is watched by millions, was detained by police on Sunday night and then sent out of Delhi. | |
He has called the police action a "blot on democracy and a conspiracy to kill me". | |
His protest comes as the Congress-led Indian government is struggling with a corruption scandal surrounding the sale of mobile phone operating licences. | |