Ramdev’s business empire worth over Rs 1,100 crores

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Yoga guru Ramdev, who is on an indefinite hunger strike against black money and corruption, on Thursday made public details of his business empire worth over1,100 crores, claiming everything was in order.

On his sixth day of fast, Ramdev addressed a press conference here during which his close aide Balakrishna said that the capital involving the four trusts run by him totalled426.19 crores while the expenditure incurred on them amounted to751.02 crores.

“We believe in transparency in work and in financial matters. There is proper audit of all our firms and companies. As per rules, government renews our trusts after every two years only when our audits are clean. What has come and what has gone, who has given it and how was it spent, is all maintained,” Balakrishna said.

The move to make public assets followed questions raised by Digvijay Singh and other Congress leaders who wanted a thorough probe into the source of the wealth acquired by Ramdev in the last five years.

Balakrishna, however, did not give details of the companies associated with Ramdev, saying it can be obtained from Registrar of Companies under the RTI Act.

“We pay tax as per government norms. TDS is deducted. We follow all rules. Details of all out associate companies can be taken from Registrar of Companies and from the government under the RTI Act. Tax details and balance sheets of trusts have been put on the web site,” he said.

While Divya Yoga Mandir trust has a capital of249.63 crores, Patanjali Yoga Peeth trust has164.80 crores, Bharat Swabhiman trust has9.97 crores and Acharyakul Shiksha Sansthan has1.79 crores — all totalling426.19 crores. The exependiture outlined for these trusts since their inception came to751.02 crores.

The 46-year old yoga exponent, who is under attack forhis statement on Wednesday to raise 11,000 — strong armed cadre, on Thursday clarified that his remarks had been twisted out of context.

Ramdev said this force was not like Naxalites, Maoists or terrorists or arming them with bombs and guns.

“I am not making terrorists, Naxalites and Maoists. I am only developing a nationalist force. It is for self-defence,” he said.

“If our women are able to safeguard themselves then nobody will dare to harm them and if our men are able then they can defend any Ramlila ground-type attack,” he said.

“My words should be taken in the right context. People should understand what I have said.I want to train them for self-defence. Shaastra means knowledge and shastra means self-defence,” he said.

Criticising the yoga guru, home minister P. Chidambaram had said on Wednesday that “by making that statement, he (Ramdev) has exposed his true colours and true intentions. Let him do so and the law will deal with that.You have to observe some discipline”.

“It is anti-national and we have to take action,” said V. Narayanswamy, minister of state in the Prime Minister’s office.

Congress said Ramdev’s call for an armed rebellion is a serious issue and hoped that the government will take appropriate action to uphold the Constitution and maintain law and order.