New Delhi, June 11 (IANS) Criticising the government over its handling of the Baba Ramdev episode, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Saturday said only a "desperate leadership" could have cracked down on the fasting yoga guru.

"Only a cornered government unable to defend its misdeeds before an angry populace and a desperate leadership can behave in this manner," Advani said in his blog.

The veteran leader likened Baba Ramdev's anti-corruption campaign to that by socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan, who led the 'total revolution' against the Emergency rule imposed by Congress government in 1975. He said even Jayaprakash Narayan was initially accused of links with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).

"When Anna Hazare first raised the Lokpal issue he had been clubbed with the RSS. These days Baba Ramdev's movement is being dubbed an RSS-sponsored one. Let no one forget that even Jayaprakash Narayan had to hear similar noises when he was leading the anti-emergency movement," Advani said.

He said he has urged President Pratibha Patil to call an emergency session of parliament to discuss issues like corruption.

"I urged the President to have the government convene an emergency session of parliament to consider three issues: the series of scams, the issue of getting back black money stashed abroad, and the crack down on a peaceful assemblage," the veteran leader added.

On June 4 night, the government cracked down on sleeping supporters of Ramdev at the Ramlila Maidan, causing injuries to many. The police refused him permission for the protest fast, and the yoga guru moved to Dehradun.