Will challenge in court of law: Balkrishan

Acharya Balkrishan, a closed aide of Baba Ramdev, expressed shock over the manner the government took over the newly built complex of Patanjali Yogpeeth in Sadhupul on Friday. He said the trust was exploring legal options before it.

“I fail to understand what wrong we have done,” Balkrishan told Hindustan Times over telephone, equating the government's act with that of a “goonda” (goon).

“We have done nothing unlawful but rather it's the government's act which is unlawful,” he remarked.

He said, “The government has forcefully taken over the land which we have got from the government after adopting the proper lawful procedure. At least the government should have served us the 'mandatory' show-cause notice before implementing its unilateral decision. Whatever we learnt till yesterday was all from the media.”

He said that now that the trust would adopt a requisite legal course to counter the government's one-sided decision.

“Since we have full faith in the country's judicial system, the government's decision will be legally challenged and the trust will move the court on Monday,” he added.

He said, “Baba Ramdev's scheduled programme to visit Sadhupul on February 26 still stands and will go ahead with its earlier programme of inaugurating the project at Sadhupul on February 27. A yoga camp will also be organised after inauguration of the project. Besides, a community lunch for at least 5,000 persons will also be served.”

Meanwhile, former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, condemning the government's action, said, “We leased out the land as the project would economically benefit the people of the region. Since herbs of 15 different types are grown in the area, there is a proposal for establishing a herb-based industry.”