Ramdev, the Haryana “Baba”, started life as a yoga expert. He has shown great political savvy, networking skills, and zeal for business. Today the Baba has morphed into a tycoon with private jet and private island, to say nothing of a solid media presence which has taken his brand of yoga to every home in India. He is worth thousands of crores.
Cut to the Central Industrial Security Force, or CISF. This is a paramilitary force, which is trained at considerable cost to the national exchequer. It was created to guard sensitive national institutions, industrial works, and airports. Of late, it has come to guard a private petroleum refinery and a software major.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CISF has undergone a fundamental change. Its men now guard the Patanjali Food and Herbal Park Private Ltd, the Baba’s flagship enterprise in Hardwar. Which means the CISF now lends its expertise to protect a company that makes noodles, shampoo, soap, hair oil and other lifestyle products, besides herbal medicines.
Sure, this is a fair advertisement for similar businesses to queue up for the CISF’s services, but will this be in the direction that national interest is meant to be served and the taxpayer’s money spent? The Baba, the BJP, the RSS and other such “rashtravadi” entities have an umbilical link. May be some day they would summon the BSF or the Indian Army to stand guard at their door. A national debate is in order on the use of national security services for private profit.
