The issue started after Ramdev used communal language and even accused Hamdard of using money from Rooh Afza to “build masjids and madrasas.”
NEW DELHI: Baba Ramdev, the founder of Patanjali, agreed on Tuesday to remove all videos in which he had made controversial and communal remarks against Hamdard and its popular drink, Rooh Afza.
The issue started after Ramdev made certain statements in a video while promoting Patanjali’s product, Gulab Sharbat, on April 3. In that video, he used communal language and even accused Hamdard of using money from Rooh Afza to “build masjids and madrasas.”
He also referred to the issue as “sharbat jihad.”
Justice Amit Bansal of the Delhi High Court strongly criticised Ramdev’s remarks and said the comments were shocking and could not be defended.
“I am glad you are appearing in the matter. I could not believe my eyes and ears when I saw this [videos],”
— Justice Amit Bansal to Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Hamdard, told the Court that Ramdev’s videos were not just about product disparagement, but were promoting a communal divide.
“This is a case which is shocking, which goes beyond disparagement. This is a case of creating communal divide, akin to hate speech. It will not have protection from law of defamation,”
— Mukul Rohatgi
Rohatgi further pointed out Ramdev’s past actions against allopathy and added:
“A hard hand is required to nip this in bud.”
After the Court warned that it may pass a strict order, Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar appeared for Baba Ramdev and Patanjali and gave an assurance that all such videos and print advertisements would be removed.
“I have advised. We are pulling down the videos,”
— Rajiv Nayar
The Court welcomed his appearance but was firm in its position. Justice Bansal directed Ramdev to submit an affidavit stating that he will not make such statements, advertisements, or social media posts in the future.
“Take down immediately,”
— Justice Amit Bansal
Nayar also requested the Court to note that Ramdev and Patanjali were not against any religion. The Court responded that such a statement could be included in the affidavit.
Meanwhile, Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, who also appeared for Hamdard, said that Ramdev should avoid making remarks against the religion of the company’s founders.
“I am a custodian of humanity,”
— Sandeep Sethi
In response to Sethi’s argument, Nayar said that Hamdard was not the “custodian of the religion.“
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had already filed a police complaint in Bhopal, accusing Ramdev of promoting religious hatred. However, Ramdev later defended himself, claiming he never named any specific brand in the video.
Nayar also added during the hearing that Ramdev cannot be stopped from having or expressing political opinions. But he accepted that an affidavit will be filed to avoid disparaging competitors’ products.
“He can hold these opinions in his head, need not express them,”
— Delhi High Court
The matter will next be heard on May 1.
The legal team for Hamdard included Senior Advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Sandeep Sethi, along with advocates Pravin Anand, Dhruv Anand, Nikhil Rohatgi, Udita Patro, Shivender Singh Pratap, Dhananjay Khanna, Nimrat Singh, Sampurnaa Sanyal, Navdeep, and Mehak Khanna.
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