Moily denies 'backdoor missions' to fasting Baba Ramdev

As Baba Ramdev continued his fast for the eighth day today at a Dehradun hospital where he was shifted due to deteriorating health, union law minister Veerappa Moily asserted in Bangalore that "the government is not engaged in any backdoor talks" with yoga guru.

Ramdev is fasting in protest against corruption, with the specific demand that illicit money stashed abroad should be repatriated.

While the government has publicly said that there would be no further negotiations with him, earlier reports had suggested that it was trying to open back-door channels through Moily.

Sri Sri Ravishankar, another popular spiritual leader and the founder of the 'Art of Living' school, has been to the hospital to see Ramdev and persuade him (unsuccessfully, as it turned out) to call off his fast. Reports suggested the mission was at the instance of Moily.

"Sri Sri Ravishankar spoke to me from Berlin and also upon his return to the country and asked me what is happening. He expressed his concern over what is happening and said he would speak to Ramdev," Moily said.

"Sri Sri asked me whether he can cite my name during talks with Ramdev, to which I agreed," said Moily.