Thursday, June 9, 2011

Charges for blessings ?


Ramdev charges for blessings: ex-followers

Arunoday MukharjiArunoday Mukharji CNN-IBN
Posted on Jun 09, 2011 at 06:54pm IST

New Delhi: Baba Ramdev might be staging a protest against corruption, but it seems he himself has some explaining to do, after his once loyal followers have come out with strong allegations against the yoga guru. Some of his former followers have alleged that Ramdev charges exorbitant amounts for simply making appearance.
"He has received so much money and all of it has gone for his selfish requirements, nothing for the poor," alleges Kolkata industrialist Piyush Pandey, who was once a loyal follower of Ramdev.
It seems that Ramdev's battle against corruption has become tougher. After being under fire from the government, his once loyal followers have also begun disclosing how heavy donations are given to Ramdev's ashram. They have also called him materialistic and raising questions over the accounting of his institutions.
Ramdev allegedly charges money for appearances, his shivirs and also for staying as a guest in his followers’ homes. The rate could allegedly vary from Rs 5 lakh to 20 lakh.
Leading Kolkata industrialist Hariram Garg, a die hard follower of the Baba since 1986, describes the route to Baba's meteoric rise.
"He has risen from the ground, but now he has become proud and it's this pride that is taking him down," says Garg
Garg also shares some shocking facts. The Baba apparently has a fixed rate chart and this is how it goes.
If you want blessings from the Baba within close proximity, it will cost you Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000. If you want him to distribute prasad at your home, be ready to pay somewhere between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
The icing on the cake is that if you want him to stay at your house, you don't get rent, instead he will have to be paid anything from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Moreover, to be a part of a shivir, the charge is Rs 1 crore.
CNN-IBN had earlier shown visuals of how Ramdev's close aides were collecting funds for his ill-fated fast at Ramlila Ground. CNN-IBN has also learnt how members of the Peetanjali Yog Trust have to pay to be a member.
To be come a corporate member one has to pay Rs 11 lakh while the rate for becoming a founder member, patron member, life member and general member are Rs 5 lakh, Rs 2.5 lakh, Rs 1 lakh and Rs 11,000 respectively.
Pandey says he used to offer simple donations to Ramdev's ashram, but they became compulsory fees. He also claims that Ramdev had allegedly demanded lakhs of rupees for staying at his house.
"We have given so much money. He knows you till you keep donating, he will stop his association with you the day you stop donating. Now he charges to stay at your house," says Pandey.
As Ramdev's battle with the government rages on, allegations like these are likely to increase.
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