Dehradun : With Congress having come to power in Uttarakhand, it has apparently started toeing the lines of the UPA government at the centre by tightening the noose around yoga guru Baba Ramdev. 
After the raid on products of Patanjali Yogpeeth anuinding discrepancies in the samples, the Uttarakhand government has now written to the centre recommending a CBI probe into the disappearance of Swami Shankardev, guru of Baba Ramdev and his close confidante Bal Krishan.
Denying all allegations of being prejudiced against the yoga guru or his close confidante, chief minister Vijay Bahuguna said that the decision for recommending a CBI probe had been taken on the repeated request of the sadhus and sants.
“Eversince his disappearance Swami Shankardev under mysterious circumstances, about five years back, the sadhus and sants have been repeatedly been demanding that efforts be made to locate him and the matter be handed over the CBI for the needful. As such it has been recommended to the centre that CBI probe into the matter”, he added.
It may be recalled that Swami Shankardev went missing from his ashram. Kripalubagh Ashram, Kankhal, Haridwar was where he was last seen on 14 July 2007.
Balkrishan, who was with Swami Shankardev at that time reportedly waited for one full day hoping that the Swami would come back. But when he did not return, a report of his missing was lodged with the police on 16 July 2007.
For almost five years, the police made efforts to locate Swami Shankardev and trace his whereabouts, and the enquiry was transferred to various officers.
But after all efforts to trace him failed, a final report was lodged in the case on April 10 this year, stating that it was futile searching the missing Swami.
Apparently this is what is disturbing supporters of Baba Ramdev and members of the Patanjali Yogpeeth, that four months after the final report having been filed in the case and matter shelved, it has been re-opened with the Uttarakhand government principal secretary (home) Vinita Kumar writing to the centre recommending a CBI probe.
Apparently they feel that this is part of the Congress agenda to tighten the noose around Baba Ramdev, who has opened a front against the party-led UPA government at the centre and vowed to canvass and campaign against the party in the next general elections.
The raid by Enforcement Directorate and involvement of Balkrishan in getting his passport with forged documents are being seen in the same light.
However, Baba Ramdev on his part claimed that he along with Balkrishan and others had searched far and wide and at all possible places where Swami Shankardev could have gone, but without luck.
“We have been saying since the very beginning that the Swami has made us capable to propagate and take yoga to the common man and as such no efforts were spared in tracing him. The efforts are still one”, he added.
A journalist with over 40 years of experience, Jagdish Bhatt was Editor, Hill Post (Uttarakhand).
Jagdish had worked with India’s leading English dailies, which include Times of India, Indian Express, Pioneer and several other reputed publications. A highly acclaimed journalist, he was a recipient of many awards
Jagdish Bhatt, aged 72, breathed his last on 28th August 2021 at his Dehradun residence.
