Pranab Mukherjee Regrets Meeting Ramdev To Dissuade Him From Going On Protest

Former President Pranab Mukherjee has finally, after six years, accepted that meeting Baba Ramdev ahead of his June 2011 protest launch in Delhi was a "misjudgement" on his part and that he "should never have done it."

While talking to the Indian Express on Saturday, Mukherjee said that Congress leader Kapil Sibal and his meeting with the yoga guru at the airport, to dissuade him from sitting on the hunger strike, was a "mistake". "I should not have done it. I told them, and I have no hesitation to tell it right now, that sometimes we make mistakes," he said.

While responding to a pertinent question, the former President indicated that the meeting was a desperate attempt at avoiding further troubles for the UPA government."I thought that we are already having an agitation from Anna Hazare. That agitation is causing some problem and embarrassment to the government… If it (Ramdev’s fast) could be nipped in the bud," he said at the gathering.

Mukherjee was then the Finance Minister. He and Sibal, then HRD Minister, met Ramdev, who flew into the capital in a chartered jet from Ujjain, on June 1 and discussed issues raised by him, including bringing back black money stashed abroad.

The talks, however, failed and Ramdev went on with the fast only to be evicted later. He continued with his hunger strike and satyagraha from Haridwar only until 12 June 2011.

The UPA 2 government saw a slew of protests in the year 2011. Led by Anna Hazare,India Against Corruption-- that saw heavy participation, could be termed as the turning point for the then incumbent government and the effects can still be seen in the aftermath.

Mukherjee also emphasised on the importance of a strong opposition in a democracy. "The presence of a strong opposition is essential for a successful parliamentary democracy. Indians can be argumentative but not intolerant," he said.