Former 'corruption fighter' civic chief Arun Bhatia attends meeting organised by yoga guru and activist Baba Ramdev's trust to discuss possibility of floating forum to fight PMC polls
Former 'corruption fighter' civic chief Arun Bhatia attends meeting organised by yoga guru and activist Baba Ramdev's trust to discuss possibility of floating forum to fight PMC polls
The Bharat Swabhiman Trust, a charitable organisation run by Baba Ramdev's disciples, has decided to join hands with social activists and get involved in the upcoming civic elections to take forward the anti-corruption wave sweeping the country. To further the cause of Baba Ramdev's fight against corruption, the yoga guru and activist's trust has decided to start cleansing the political system and plans to make a beginning with the municipal elections scheduled in February 2012.
Political agenda? Former IAS officer Arun Bhatia
Sources said Baba Ramdev had agreed to support the cause and a new forum would be established to execute the plan. The first meeting of the trust for the purpose was organised in the city, to which retired IAS officer and former municipal commissioner Arun Bhatia and other senior thinkers were invited. It is learnt that the new forum will also be supported by Colonel Jayant Chitale (Retired), who runs the Maharashtra Military Foundation, a social outfit of former defence personnel that has taken part in elections in the past.
Baba Ramdev
Fighting Kalmadi
Sources said supporters of the cause are opposed to city MP Suresh Kalmadi, whose writ runs large in local politics, and want to fight the upcoming municipal elections by taking up the issue of his alleged involvement in corrupt practices. Bhatia, who had contested the last election against Kalmadi and, more recently, filed a PIL against the MP regarding the alleged corruption in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, confirmed a meeting of the trust had taken place where ideas to clean up the political system were discussed. 
City MP Suresh Kalmadi. File pics
He said many like-minded people were coming together for the cause. "We are still discussing the issue and don't want to make any further comment on this at the moment," he said. "Things may get finalised in the second meeting scheduled next week."
The new forum is expected to find its feet after August 20. As the Bharat Swabhiman Trust is supporting Anna Hazare's agitation against the "diluted" government draft of the Lokpal Bill, the new forum shall be officially established a few days after the renowned social activist from Ralegansiddhi begins his stir in Delhi on August 16, said sources from the trust.
"Instead of fighting the election under the banner of Bharat Swabhiman Trust, the meeting decided to develop a separate forum, which shall have the backing of Baba Ramdev," said a source from the trust. "People need a positive change and we can make it happen. Even if we can not completely eradicate bad practices in politics, we can certainly initiate good and ethical practices in the cesspool of the present political scenario."
2009 LS elections:
Bhatia vs Kalmadi
Votes for Suresh Kalmadi: 2,79,973
Votes for Arun Bhatia: 30,340
(Arun Bhatia got the fifth highest votes among the 36 candidates contesting)
Revival of Nagri Sanghatana discussed
The meeting organised by Baba Ramdev's trust and attended by Arun Bhatia also discussed the possibility of reviving the erstwhile citizen forum Nagri Sanghatana, established by veteran journalist and Sakal editor N B Parulekar in the late 60s, said sources. Nagri Sanghatana was not a political party but people from many parties won polls under its banner. The forum existed till the 70s. Baburao Jagtap, an elected member from the forum, was even made mayor.
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