photo of Ramdev's yoga camps in Delhi ad in The Hindu of 8 Oct 2013. Are these camps in part to draw people towards BJP ?
see reports in the media to allow you to see some background matter
Firstpost
EC allows Ramdev yoga camp in Delhi with riders
by Oct 10, 2013
New Delhi: The Election Commission has given its nod for a yoga camp to be conducted by Ramdev in the national capital from Thursday while warning the organisers against using the venue for political purposes.
Disposing of a complaint against the holding of the camp at Dwarka in Delhi, EC said the event may be allowed to go ahead, but with a few riders.
]No politics, only yoga. PTI No politics, only yoga. PTI
It said there will be no formal or publicised inauguration or closing ceremonies for the camp attended by political functionaries as chief guests or special invitees.
It also said that no distribution of any publicity material in any medium (print, electronic or digital) of any political party shall be permitted at the camp.
"Organisers should be directed to ensure that the venue for the camp is not used for political campaigning by anybody," EC said.
It added that any violation of its instructions, including by the organisers, will invite strict action under the relevant laws/rules and the Model Code of Conduct, including withdrawal of the permission to hold the camp.
"Organisers may also be informed that any direct/indirect political message from the camp will be viewed seriously and the entire expenditure for it will then be treated as having been made on election campaigning.
"(The expenses will be then) booked under relevant provisions of the election expenditure of contesting candidates under the Representation of the People Act, 1951," it said.
EC also asked local authorities to get an undertaking from the organisers that they will adhere to all the conditions laid down before them.
It also asked for the camp to be videographed.
PTI
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from Hindustan Times
Yoga or politics? Poll panel tunes in to Ramdev camps
Neelam Pandey, Hindustan Times New Delhi, October 10, 2013
First Published: 00:22 IST(10/10/2013) | Last Updated: 00:37 IST(10/10/2013)
The Delhi election commission is keeping a close eye on Ramdev’s yoga camps, which started in the Capital on Wednesday, after the Delhi Congress complained that they were being used to promote the BJP.
Followers of Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev during the agitation against black money and Corruption at Ramleela Ground in New Delhi. (HT Photo/Arvind Yadav)
The commission has ordered video recording of the yoga camps — planned at several places across the city — and will have its officials present at the venues to make sure that the camps are not used for political purposes.
“We have asked our officials to record the entire event. No one will be allowed to make any political speeches,” said Vijay Dev, chief electoral officer.
The commission has said it will withdraw permission for the camps if any violation is found.
The first yoga camp was held in east Delhi’s Shastri Park. A similar camp will take place in Dwarka on Thursday, and another one will be held in Surajmal Stadium in Nangloi on Friday. Apart from this, ‘Yoga Shiksha’ meetings have also been planned.
BJP workers have been publicising the camps and recorded phone calls are being made to people asking them to join in large numbers. Residents of Narela constituency have been getting such calls from BJP’s Neeldaman Khatri, former district president of Narela.
Fearing that the camps would be used by Ramdev to promote the BJP, the Delhi Congress had complained to the commission. “One of the camps was to be organised in my constituency and I saw it was being advertised as a political rally by the BJP. Hence I filed a complaint and I’m happy with the decision of the commission,” said Naresh Kumar, former general secretary of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee..
Ramdev’s spokesperson SK Tijarawala, however, said that it was the right of every citizen to express their views on corruption and black money: “Ramdev ji is a yoga guru and has a right to preach that. It is not a crime.”
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Economic Times
Add Ramdev's Chhattisgarh meet expenses to BJP poll head, suggests EC
By PTI | 10 Oct, 2013, 05.02PM IST
READ MORE ON » UPA | Swabhiman Manch | Sunil Kujur | Sonia Gandhi | Narendra Modi | Manmohan Singh | Election Commission
Congress and a regional party 'Swabhiman Manch' had complained that Baba Ramdev is using his platform to campaign for BJP.Congress and a regional party 'Swabhiman Manch' had complained that Baba Ramdev is using his platform to campaign for BJP.
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RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh Election Commission has proposed addition of expenses incurred during Baba Ramdev's recent visit to the state in the election expenditure account of BJP, as his speeches during this period allegedly amounted to campaign in favour of the ruling party.
"We have proposed to add the entire expenditure incurred in the meetings held by Baba Ramdev during his recent visit to the state to the election expenditure account of BJP," Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Kujur told PTI today.
In wake of Ramdev's public meetings in different districts of the state, Congress and a regional party 'Swabhiman Manch' had complained that he is using his platform to campaign for BJP, citing it as a violation of model code of conduct, Kujur said.
After checking the video recordings of the yoga guru's meetings and other investigations, the Commission found that although he had taken formal permission for conducting voter awareness campaign and yoga camp, but his speech during the events could be considered as election campaign in BJP's favour, he said.
On the basis of the findings, a proposal has been sent to the Election Commission of India, Delhi, asking to add the expenses of the meeting of Baba Ramdev in the expenditure of the ruling party in Chhattisgarh, he said.
Baba Ramdev was on the tour of five districts-- Durg, Bemetara, Kawardha, Rajnandgaon and Korea -- for conducting voter awareness campaign and yoga camps in nearly 15 constituencies of the state from October 3-8.
The model code of conduct came into force in the state on October 4 evening after the announcement of the poll schedule for five states, including Chhattisgarh.
Alleging that during his campaign Ramdev praised BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress and a regional party had complained to the Election Commission.
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Baba Ramdev's Modi praise proves 'costly' for Chhattisgarh BJP
(Times of India)
