Cong talks tough at core group meet on Ramdev

Worried over Baba Ramdev's plan to start an indefinite fast against corruption from Saturday, Congress leaders met again on Thursday.

Sources said Baba Ramdev is in discussion with a desperate Government and will announce the results of the talks on Friday.

According to the sources, on Thursday, he spoke to Congress leader and Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay on the phone and has been requested not to speak until after a meeting with ministers is over.

Accordingly, Ramdev's scheduled interaction with the media has been postponed.

The development comes even as the Congress Core Committee is meeting to devise a strategy to counter the Ramdev challenge.

According to the sources, the Congress talked tough at the core group meet and said that the Government will continue its talks with Ramdev but on its own terms and conditions.

The Government has rejected Baba Ramdev's demand of pulling 500 and 1000 rupees notes out of the market.

"As a responsible and sensitive Government, we are engaging everyone constructively to find practical and real solutions in national interest. This should not be mistaken as sign of weakness or fear," said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

Earlier, Ramdev had reiterated his decision to launch his crusade against black money and said that that he would launch his hunger strike at Delhi