It was 5 pm on Saturday when the government took the tough decision of disrupting yoga guru Baba Ramdev's indefinite fast with consent from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
The decision was taken after all efforts to cajole the yoga guru failed and he maintained a hard stance on the practical steps by the government on his demand for bringing back black money from abroad, sources said.
The government was also worried about the possibility of terrorists targeting the large congregation, particularly in view of an explosion outside the Delhi high court recently.
Baba Ramdev was given a final chance at around 4 pm on Saturday when the government sent a letter stating that actions were being taken by it on his demands against black money and corruption, sources said.
The yoga guru first wanted an hour's time, but at around 5 pm announced that his indefinite fast would continue. This prompted the government to resort to police action and forcibly end the agitation.
The prime minister was consulted and Gandhi was also taken into confidence, sources said.
Giving reasons for the government's tough line, sources said Baba Ramdev started hardening his stance and even wanted to discuss issues only with the prime minister.
Besides, continuation of the fast -- which was likely to have prolonged as Baba Ramdev ate fruits and drank water during his fast -- would have created a law and order problem soon.
There were also intelligence inputs that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been mobilising more people for Ramdev's gathering and there would have been more people on Sunday it being a holiday, sources said.
The recent explosion outside the Delhi high court also kept reminding the police of anti-social elements or terrorists attempting sabotage. Had such a situation arisen, there would have been a stampede-like situation and the death of many people, with the entire blame going to the police.
The entire operation was planned meticulously and the police even arranged buses for out-station followers of Baba Ramdev to be dropped at railway stations and bus termini. Many buses carrying Baba Ramdev's followers were not allowed to enter the national capital and ordered to go back.
Sources said the government was not anticipating any untoward incident anywhere as it acted according to law. Sources also said according to the initial plan, the four ministers who held discussions with Baba Ramdev at Delhi airport, were supposed to travel to Ujjain the latter was staying before arriving in Delhi, for the meeting.
There was also a plan to extern him from the airport itself if he did not call off his agitation. But since the government decided to continue the talks, his externment from Delhi at that time was dropped, they said.
