Renowned yoga guru Ramdev sparked controversy on August 15th by labeling allopathy medicines as “poisonous” and blaming them for the deaths of millions. His remarks have reignited debates on traditional versus modern medicine.
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NEW DELHI: Renowned yoga guru Ramdev has once again found himself at the center of controversy. On Thursday(15th August), Ramdev made a bold statement, referring to allopathy medicines as “poisonous” and blaming them for causing the deaths of “millions of people.”
While speaking to the media during the 78th Independence Day celebrations, Ramdev remarked-
“Health freedom has been a long-standing dream in India, as millions of people die each year from consuming the poisonous allopathy medicines…”
This provocative statement has reignited the debate over the safety and efficacy of modern medical practices, particularly allopathy, which is widely practiced in India and across the globe.
Ramdev’s latest remarks come just two days after the Supreme Court of India closed contempt proceedings against him, his aide Acharya Balkrishna, and their company, Patanjali Ayurved. The court had previously taken up the case following allegations that the company had misled the public with ill-informed advertisements.
On Tuesday, a bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah decided to close the case after accepting an apology tendered by Ramdev, Balkrishna, and Patanjali Ayurved. The court issued a stern warning, cautioning them against repeating their past actions. The bench made it clear that if either Ramdev or Balkrishna were found to have violated the court’s orders in the future, the legal proceedings would be reopened.
The Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on the matter on May 14. In its ruling, the court emphasized the seriousness of the case, underscoring that any further violations would be met with stringent legal action.
The Patanjali Misleading Advertisements Case
The contempt proceedings stemmed from a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against Patanjali Ayurved. The IMA accused the company of spreading misinformation through advertisements, which allegedly made baseless claims about the effectiveness of their products.
In November 2023, both Ramdev and Balkrishna appeared before the apex court and assured the judges that they would refrain from making any statements against any system of medicine. However, the very next day, they violated the court’s order by making inflammatory comments, alleging that “allopathy spreads lies.” Furthermore, in December, Patanjali Ayurved issued a misleading advertisement that further exacerbated the situation.
ALSO READ: Patanjali ads: Ramdev, Balkrishna tender unconditional apology before SC
Contempt Notice and Court’s Response
In response to these actions, the Supreme Court issued a contempt notice to Patanjali Ayurved in February, accusing the company of disregarding the court’s directives and misleading the public with false claims about their products. The court expressed its dissatisfaction with the company’s behavior, emphasizing the importance of adhering to ethical standards in advertising, particularly in matters related to public health.
By March, the situation had escalated further. The court was informed that Patanjali Ayurved had failed to file a response to the contempt notice. As a result, the court ordered both Ramdev and Balkrishna to appear personally before the bench. The court also directed the company to publish unconditional public apology advertisements in national daily newspapers, acknowledging their error in publishing misleading advertisements in the past.
Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved have a history of courting controversy. Over the years, they have been criticized for making unsubstantiated claims about the effectiveness of their products. This latest incident adds to the growing list of legal challenges faced by the company and its founders.
