Who is Baba Ramdev? A Yoga Guru

As Swamis go, he is rather young - turned 45 last year. Before Baba Ramdev became the latest crusader against corruption, he was best known for his efforts to popularise yoga among increasingly health conscious Indians.

Ramdev is largely a television and video phenomenon. He fired the imagination of an entire segment of TV watchers, who tuned out of daily soap opera to tune into and do yoga with Baba Ramdev.

A wiry man with a full flowing black beard, hair parted and tied back, in red robes, the abiding vision of Ramdev is of a man demonstrating very difficult yoga asanas. He has a considerable following and people flock to his institutes in Haridwar, near Dehradun. The yoga guru claims to cure many ailments through yoga and ayurveda and has courted controversy with his claims of curing AIDS and cancer with yoga, though he later clarified that he had only said yoga helped provide relief to those with AIDS.

As his popularity has grown in the era of multiple television channels, Ramdev has found not just celebrity, but political ambition too. A year ago he announced a new political party - the Bharat Swabhiman - to "cleanse the system." Ramdev said that he would not contest elections but that his party would contest all 543 Lok Sabha seats in the next elections on a manifesto that shall address black money and corruption as the key issues.
And those are the issues that Ramdev has brought out to address in his satyagraha, that he plans to launch tomorrow in the national capital. With a fast, much in the manner of social activist Anna Hazare, who had galvanized mass support with his hunger strike against corruption two months ago. Both Ramdev and Anna are part of a citizens effort to goad the government into making more stringent laws against corruption.

Ramdev was born in 1965 in a Haryana village called Alipur. He was named Ramkishan Yadav. Various biographies say Ramkishan attended school till class 8 and then joined a gurukul where he learnt Sanskrit and Yoga. He later became a sanyasi (one who renounces the world) and took the name Baba Ramdev and began to teach yoga. He later moved to Haridwar, where he continued to offer free yoga lessons. His followers claim he has studied the Hindu scriptures deeply and even taught them in various gurukuls.

Ramdev has set up several trusts, gurukuls and foundations and conducts yoga camps and classes throughout the world. He is known for his focus on pranayama, the ancient breathing exercises that are a fundamental part of yoga.

Rich Tributes paid to Mrs Surinder Kaur Badal by noted National political leaders and religious personalities

CM Expresses gratitude for sharing family’s grief

Malout-Glowing tributes were paid to Mrs Surinder Kaur Badal, the wife of Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal and the mother of Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal by the eminent national political leaders and religious personalities at the Bhog and antim ardaas ceremony organised here today at the New grain market.

Thousands of people from across the state have converged at the venue of bhog ceremony since morning to pay homage to Mrs Badal. Besides scores of regional leaders of various political parties, Cabinet Ministers, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, top brass of the state civil and Police administration, party workers of SAD-BJP and the members of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) also attended the bhog and antim ardaas of Mrs Badal.

Expressing gratitude to the people for sharing the grief in this hour of crisis, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal said that he on the behalf of Badal family was highly indebted to each one of you present here for showing a sense of belonginess and generosity. He said, “It was not only a personal loss to the family but also to the region and its people with whom my wife shared emotional ties since long for ensuring its overall development and their well being”.

Mr Badal profusely thanked the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who along with his wife shared his heart felt condolences telephonically with him and his family immediately after hearing about the sad demise of Mrs Badal. He also appreciated benevolent gesture of several leaders of national stature, who expressed sympathies with the family cutting across the political affiliations.

Paying tributes to Mrs Surinder Kaur Badal, the former Deputy Prime Minister Mr LK Advani recalled his ties with the Badal family since the formation of Bharatiya Jan Sangh under the leadership of Dr Shayama Prasad Mukherjee and later BJP and now the SAD being one of its the most trustworthy and strongest ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Mr Advani asked the people to take a vow to eradicate the menace of female foeticide from Punjab as a real tribute to Mrs Badal and also lauded the efforts of Member Parliament Mrs Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who had already launched a crusade against it and positive results were forthcoming.

In his address to offer tributes to Mrs Badal, the former BJP National President and Ex Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Rajnath Singh said she was a multi-faceted personality with the qualities of head and heart. He said Mrs Badal throughout remained a source of inspiration behind Mr Parkash Singh Badal’s successful political career who steered the state as Chief Minister for four terms

Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Mrs Sushma Swaraj said that Mrs Badal was a unique example of womanhood who strived hard for the empowerment of women and played a significant role in championing the cause of women, especially in the rural sector. She said Mrs Badal’s apt handling of domestic affairs gave an opportunity to Mr Badal to emerge as the tallest political figure on the national arena, for which he was even today respected by one and all for his rare political acumen and statesmanship.

Paying homage to Mrs Badal, the Gujrat Chief Minister Mr Narinder Kumar Modi described her as a moving spirit for Mr Parkash Singh Badal’s dynamic political personality and her son Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal’s tremendous abilities and capabilities which had put Punjab in the high orbit of growth and development.

Former Haryana Chief Minister and President of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) Mr Om Parkash Chautala in his tributes to Mrs Badal said that her immense contribution at the domestic front had enabled the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal to achieve glory in political circles because he could exclusively devote himself to the overall development of state and for the welfare of its people, especially the peasantry. Without mincing any words Mr Chautala said politics was a whole time job and Mr Badal had done justice to it only due to the sheer dedication and motivation of his wife.

Former Member Parliament and Member of Working Committee of All India Congress Committee Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar recalled his affinity with Mrs Badal, who was just like a mother to him and said she was a perfect blend of love, compassion and faith. Mr Brar said that her contribution as a life partner in political life of Mr Badal was remarkable. He quoted, “Race is known by the womenhood”, which goes well with Mrs Badal’s charismatic personality.

In his homage to Mrs Badal the President Lok Bhalai Party and former Union Minister Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia said that the real tribute to her would be to ban the extravagant marriages in the state.

Member of National Executive of Communist Party of India Dr Joginder Dayal in his address paid to tributes Mrs Surinder Kaur Badal said that all of us should take a solemn pledge to do away with the social evil of female foeticide which was a slur on the Punjab’s rich cultural legacy.

While paying tributes to Mrs Badal the Managing Editor of the Ajit group of Newspapers Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard said that she was an icon of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat as she always stood against the social maladies like dowry and female foeticide.

In his address Giani Gurbachan Singh the Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib said Sardarni Surinder Kaur Badal was a perfect daughter, an accomplished wife and a caring mother who personified the concept of women hood in the right earnest.

Paying homage to Mrs Badal, the Head of Damdami Taksal Baba Harnaam Singh Dhumma said she motivated the people to organise community kitchen (Langar) at Sri Darbar Sahib and Kirtan Darbars in Punjab and other parts of country to propagate the basic tenets of sikhism amongst them especially the common masses.

Earlier Bhai Lakhwinder Singh, Bhai Harjinder Singh Srinagar Waale, Bhai Joginder Singh Riar and Bhai Ravinder Singh performed the gurbani kirtan and the antim ardas was performed by Bhai Kulwinder Singh.

शरिरिक शोषण करने वजान से मार देने की धमकी देने का आरोप,मामला दर्ज

डबवाली (यंग फ्लेम) उपमंडल के गांव लोहगढ की एक युवती ने गांव के ही एक युवक पर शरिरिक शोषण करने व जान से मार देने की धमकी देने का आरोप लगाते हुए उक्त युवक के खिलाफ थाना सदर डबवाली में एक शिकायत दर्ज करवाई है।

पीडि़ता ने गांव के ही युवक छिन्दरपाल पुत्र फम्मन सिंह जाति राय सिख पर आरोप लगाते हुए कहा कि उक्त युवक पिछले डेढ दो माह से उो डरा धमका कर उसका शरीरिक शोषण कर रहा था और बीते दिवस पीडि़ता के पिता गांव से बाहर गए हुए थे और उसकी माता लोगों के घरों में बर्तन साफ करने गई थी और पीडि़ता बाद दोपहर अढाई बजे के करीब एक परचून की दुकान से गुड लेकर वापिस अपने घर लौट रही थी कि उसको रास्ते में छिन्दरपाल ने रोक लिया और विजय कुमार नाई के खाली पड़े मकान में जबरदस्ती पकड कर ले गया और उससे अश£ील हरकते करने लग गया उसके मना करने पर भी वह नहीं माना तो उसने शोर मचा दिया तो शोर सुनकर उसकी माता अचानक वहां आ गई और उक्त युवक वहां से फरार हो गया। इस संदर्भ में थाना सदर के प्रभारी रतन सिंह से पूछा गया तो उन्होंने बताया कि गांव लोहगढ़ निवासी युवती की शिकायत पर गांव के ही युवक छिन्दरपाल पुत्र फम्मन सिंह के खिलाफ विभिन्न धाराओं के तहत मामला दर्ज कर युवक की तलाश शुरू कर दी गई है।

एसपी ने ली लाखों की रिश्वत: चौटाला!

सरसा (यंग फ्लेम) अभय सिंह चौटाला ने आरोप लगाया है कि जिले में हाल ही में हुए मर्डर के एक केस में 30 लाख रुपये की रिश्वत ली है। इस बात के उनके पास पुख्ता सबूत है। वे आज हिसार रोड स्थित गुंबर फार्महाउस में पत्रकारों से रू-ब-रू हो रहे थे। उन्होंने कहा कि मुख्यमंत्री भूपेंद्र सिंह हुड्डा सिरसा एसपी को सबसे ईमानदार एसपी बताते हैं जबकि हकीकत इसके उलट है। उन्होंने आरोप लगाया कि हत्या के एक मामले में एसपी ने 30 लाख रुपये की रिश्वत ली है। यह राशि किस व्यापारी ने और किस बैंक के खाते से निकालकर एसपी तक पहुंचाई, इसके उनके पास पुख्ता सबूत है। अभय सिंह ने कहा कि एसपी के सुस्त रवैये के कारण जिले में कानून व्यवस्था का जनाजा निकला हुआ है। आए दिन हत्या, लूट, डकैती, छीना-झपटी की घटनाएं हो रही हैं और एसपी आरोपियों को पकडऩे के लिए टीम गठित करने की बात कहकर अपनी जिम्मेदारी से पल्ला छाड़ रहे हैं। बाबा रामदेव द्वारा कल से प्रस्तावित सत्याग्रह के बारे में चौटाला ने कहा कि बाबा की मांग जायज व देशहित में है, इनेलो बाबा के इस आंदोलन का समर्थन करता है। उन्होंने कहा कि भ्रष्टाचार के खिलाफ रामदेव का अभियान अच्छा है। हरियाणा में भी इनेलो कांग्रेस की पोल खोलने के लिए जनजागरण अभियान चला

रही है।

युवा सबसे बड़ी ताकत: अभय सिंह

सिरसा (यंग फ्लेम) ऐलनाबाद के विधायक अभय सिंह चौटाला ने कहा है कि युवा ही किसी पार्टी या संगठन की सबसे बड़ी ताकत है। देश की आजादी में भी युवाओं ने कुर्बानी देकर देश को अंग्रेजी शासन से मुक्त कराया था। अब फिर से युवाओं पर एक जिम्मेदारी आ गई है। हरियाणा प्रदेश के युवाओं को गांव-गांव तक जाकर कांग्रेस के कुशासन की पोल खोलने के लिए काम करना होगा। वे आज हिसार रोड स्थित प्रीतम पैलेस में युवा इनेलो की ओर से आयोजित युवा सम्मेलन में उमड़े हजारों युवाओं को संबोधित कर रहे थे। सम्मेलन में युवा इनेलो के प्रदेशाध्यक्ष प्रदीप गिल, जिलाध्यक्ष धर्मवीर नैन, शहरी प्रधान बंसी सचदेवा, महावीर बागड़ी, इनेलो जिलाध्यक्ष पदम जैन, अमीर चावला, जसबीर सिंह जस्सा, भागीराम, डॉ. सीताराम, चरणजीत सिंह रोड़ी, कृष्णा फौगाट, कृष्ण गुंबर सहित अन्य नेताओं ने भी अपने विचार व्यक्त किए।

अभय सिंह ने कहा कि इनेलो ने कांग्रेस शासन की पोल खोलने के लिए एक जून से पोल-खोल अभियान चलाया है जो 30 जून तक चलेगा। इसके लिए प्रत्येक जिले में एक-एक पदाधिकारी की ड्यूटी लगाई है। इसके तहत एक बुकलेट प्रकाशित की गई है जिसमें कांग्रेस शासन की नाकामियों का लेखा-जोखा है। युवाओं को अपने-अपने गांव में जाकर बुकलेट में दर्ज ब्यौरा हर आदमी को बढ़कर बताना है। अभय सिंह ने प्रदेश सरकार पर हमला बोलते हुए कहा कि जब से प्रदेश में कांग्रेस की सरकार बनी है, तब से लोगों को महंगाई, भ्रष्टाचार,बेरोजगारी की मार झेलनी पड़ रही है। बिजली, पानी, खाद, बीज की किल्लत बनी हुई है। कानून नाम की कोई चीज नहीं है। लोग मांगों के लिए सड़क जाम कर रहे हैं। सरेआम हत्या, लूट, डकैती, चेन झपटने की घटनाएं हो रही हैं। जब लोग हत्यारों की गिरफ्तारी की मांग पर शव सड़क पर रखकर जाम लगाते हैं तो सरकार 5-10 लाख रुपये देकर शव खरीदने का काम कर रही है। हत्यारों को पकडऩे का आश्वासन दिया जाता है मगर होता कुछ नहीं है।
उन्होंने कहा कि ऐसी सरकार अब ज्यादा दिन तक नहीं चलेगी, 2 जुलाई को हजकां विधायकों के मामले में हाई कोर्ट का फैसला आना है जिसमें पांचों विधायकों का जाना तय है। उसके बाद फिर से पांच विधान सभाओं के चुनाव होंगे जिसमें इनेलो की जीत होगी और उसके साथ ही प्रदेश में इनेलो की सरकार बनेगी और इनेलो की सरकार बनने के बाद युवाओं को पूरी तव्वजों मिलेगी। नौकरी के लिए युवाओं को किसी के आगे हाथ नहीं फैलाना पड़ेगा। कार्यक्रम के अंत में युवा इनेलो के शहरी प्रधान बंसी सचदेवा ने मेहमानों व आए हुए युवाओं का धन्यवाद किया।