Baba Ramdev's call for arms clearly shows his intentions for power. Going by some of the demands he has articulated, his aspiration for power is not good for India. The government should, as Home Minister Chidambaram said, let the law deal with him if he creates a private militia.
Ramdev's protest and its breaking up by the government helped bring public focus on corruption; now by talking about building a force, Ramdev has done the biggest harm to his cause.
Of course it can be asked whether his true motive has always been power. Or whether the government action helped change a shift to his new cause. Whatever that be, the serious issue of fighting corruption is now going to get buried in all the cacophony around the militia Ramdev has said he wants to create.
From here on, however, it is a downhill ride for Ramdev. He will see that India's youth and the middle class, which have supported his fight against corruption, will not support him in an armed agitation. India's young, Internet savvy and wanting change, are also not zealots who can be swayed by narrow sectarian agenda. Ramdev has effectively undermined himself by his utterances.
However, the people who supported him should also ensure the fight against corruption is not centered around a personality and should go on regardless of whether Baba Ramdev can lead it or not.
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