Baba Ramdev

BHOPAL: In an indirect attack on the BJP-ruled NDA government at the Centre, yoga guru Baba Ramdev said on Thursday that unemployment is a big issue in the country and both Centre and state governments are not able to do much to solve the problem.

"Unemployment is a big question in the country and the Centre and the state governments are not able to do much as they were supposed to solve this issue," Ramdev told reporters after a function here.

The yoga guru further stated that he has resolved to build a self-reliant country through swadeshi (movement) and that unemployment, poverty, hunger and scarcity are disgrace to India. His aim is to get rid of this blot.

"During last one month, Patanjali group has provided job to 11,000 people in its sales department and would employ another similar number in the next five to six months. In the coming six months, we will provide 20,000 new jobs to the youth. In MP, the group has so far provided 1,500 jobs," claimed the yoga guru.

Criticising the assault on social activist Swami Agnivesh, Ramdev said that everyone has the right to express their views in democracy and also to disagree with one's views. But, to attack a person or assault or beating is disgraceful.

"To disagree with someone's views was democratic as he has been given the fundamental right and freedom of speech to express himself. Swami Agnivesh too has these constitutional and fundamental rights. Those who oppose him too have these rights, but attacking him, beating him is disgraceful," reacted Baba Ramdev.

Swami Agnivesh was attacked in Jharkhand's Pakur town by a mob as he came out after addressing a press conference on July 17 by a group of BJP-affiliated youth.

To a question on the ministerial status granted to a number of saints by the Madhya Pradesh government, he said, "Ramdev is a saint who neither wants to become a minister nor a chief minister or a prime minister."

Asked to comment on political developments in the state and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Jan Ashirwad Yatra, the yoga guru said he had come to the state on an apolitical and a purely swadeshi visit.

