Monitoring Indian Communists - 2

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January 15, 2006

Swami Ramdev has the Reds on the run
By Sunita Govind

After distorting history textbooks and manipulating academic and cultural institutions, the anti-national Leftists have now set their evil eye on the most potent symbols of Bharatiya culture—Yoga and Ayurveda.

The latest offensive has come from Brinda Karat, the wife of CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat and Rajya Sabha Member.

Using the specious argument of alleged retrenchment in one of the medicine manufacturing units, Karat stunned believers and beneficiaries of the eternal Yoga and Ayurveda by alleging that the medicines prepared by internationally acclaimed Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev contained animal material and human bones.

She claimed that the Union Health Ministry has endorsed her charges.

She claimed in a press release issued in the capital on January 3, "On December 29, 2005, I have received a letter from the Ministry of Health and Welfare confirming that there is prima facie evidence that there were animal parts in the samples in Ayurvedic medicines produced by Divya Yoga Pharmacy, Uttaranchal, owned by Swami Ramdev."

But the letter written by Joint Secretary in the Department of AYUSH, Shiv Basant, nowhere mentions the presence of animal material or human bones in the samples analysed by reputed laboratories in the country. It only refers to a violation of licensing and labelling provisions of the Indian Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Thus, her first lie stood nailed.

The Joint Secretary in his letter also maintained that there was "no Divya Pharmacy in Rishikesh" as alleged by her.

Karat, perhaps, did not realise that by making the accusations, she was not merely denigrating popular symbols of Bharatiya culture but hurting the deep-rooted, centuries-old faith of millions of people in this country. <b>So much so that even the pseudo-secular allies of the UPA including the Congress, who have always kowtowed before the whims and fancies of the Reds, found it difficult to support her, fearing a backlash, which could lead to a resurgence of nationalist forces.</b>

The reactions to her statements reflected the anger and anguish of the nationalists, who have closed their ranks when it comes to open aggression against their territory or religion and culture.

<b>In tradition of Sage Parashurama, who took up arms in defence of truth and justice, Baba Ramdev too reminded Karat that he was ready for war as he inherited the legacy of Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji. </b>"I am ready for a probe by any government agency. Since I have launched a campaign against multinational drug companies and weapons mafia, they have used Karat", he said in a prompt response to the CPM charges.

<b>"I have specific information that Karat met MNC representatives on December 29," Swami Ramdev said exposing the Communists, who practice different and mutually contradictory yardsticks in Delhi, West Bengal and Kerala.</b>

Even pseudo-secularists forced to rubbish Karat's charges against Baba Ramdev.

Samples of medicines prepared by Divya Yog Pharmacy had never been collected officially and, therefore, no testing was carried out to ascertain whether it contained animal parts and human bones, he said and added that the medicines prepared at the Pharmacy were in keeping with Ayurvedic standards and were certified by the government.

In a hard-hitting reaction, RSS Spokesman, Ram Madhav said: "The allegation levelled by Karat against Swami Ramdev is a conspiracy hatched by the retrograde Leftists to demean reputed persons of Bharatiya culture."

Rebutting Health Minister A. Ramadoss charges, the Congress government in Uttaranchal rubbished Karat's allegations against Baba Ramdev and even demanded a CBI probe to find out whether there was any foul play by her in the whole episode.

Enraged activists of Hindu and patriotic organisations went on the rampage across the country in protest. Arya Samaj workers gheraoed the CPI(M) headquarters in Delhi and burnt an effigy of Karat as hooligans of the party pelted stones on the peaceful demonstrators.

Activists of the All India Anti-Terrorist Front and BJP staged separate demonstrations in Ludhiana and charged Karat with hurting the feeling of nationalist and patriotism, of which Swamiji is an ardent preacher.

The highly respected Vaid Devendra Trig-una, President of All India Ayurveda Congress said, "In classical formulations, crushed antlers of deer and musk were used but these are now banned. There is no use of bone or body parts and certainly not human body parts."


<b>Allies dump CPM on Swami</b>

· Ramdev, credited with an evangelical zeal that has brought about a democratisation of Yoga has been known for pro-Swadeshi views; particularly his campaign against the Cola giants."

—The Times of India

· The allegation levelled by Karat against Swami Ramdev is a conspiracy hatched by the retrograde Leftists to demean reputed persons of Bharatiya culture. They are experts in dirty tricks department, which they have employed in Baba Ramdev case also. Brinda Karat has no authority to take samples. She has violated the sampling norms stipulated by the government, and the Health Ministry has colluded with her in this conspiracy. The country should rise in protest against the sinister campaign launched by the anti-national Left forces led by Karat."

—Ram Madhav, RSS Spokesman

· Karat is absolutely wrong in attacking Swami Ramdev. The Communists were getting unnerved by his growing popularity, love for Hindutva and the spread of Hindutva through his medicines. The multinational companies do not want traditional Indian medicines to become popular as India is a big market for them. This is an international conspiracy against him."

— Acharya Giriraj Kishore, VHP Senior Vice-President

· Karat's allegations have hurt the sentiments of the people of Uttaranchal and the followers of the spiritual leader. She should tender a public apology. The State Health Ministry had conducted an inquiry last year when the issue first came to light and no irregularities were found. We need to find out whether or not Karat had adulterated the samples before giving them for tests. <b>Swami Ramdev is the pride of Uttaranchal. The CPI(M) is trying to destroy the centuries-old tradition of Ayurvedic medicines and trust on religion by levelling such allegations."</b>

—Dhirendra Pratap, Uttaranchal Minister and state <b>Congress leader</b>

· Swamiji's medicines have proved effective and one should not make utterances which hurt the faith and sentiments of the people."

—<b>Ambika Soni</b>, Senior Congress leader <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo-->

· Medicines should not be given in blind faith. It is now widely accepted that Yoga and meditation are complementary to therapy. It reduces the secretions of catecolamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline) and helps in the relaxation of the body. This lowers blood pressure and also helps in stopping the progression of coronary artery disease."

—Dr Purshotam Lal, director, Interventional Cardiology, Metro Hospital, Delhi

· People need to look up to someone, like a guru. In India, there has been a long tradition of following holy men. Our society is, at heart, very emotional. Gurus are not teaching people anything wrong."

—Dr Mohan Agashe, psychiatrist and actor

· He has popularised Uttaranchal and Haridwar abroad with his panacea."

—N.D. Tiwari, Chief Minister of Uttaranchal

· Ramdev cures through Yoga and Ayurveda, which vindicates that our traditional science is still effective."

—Mulayam Singh Yadav, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh

· As a doctor, I thought what he taught was rubbish. I just followed the exercises. And it was fantastic."

—Dr Anuj Bhatnagar



<b>Baba reacts:</b>

· I am a Hindu in the true traditions of Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji. I will hit back at anyone trying to demean Indian culture… I am ready for a probe by any government agency. Since I have launched a campaign against multinational drug companies and weapons mafia, they have used Karat. I have specific information that Karat met MNC representatives on December 29."

· "Yoga is the natural remedy to cure all this. I have neither revived nor established it, it already existed. I just take it to the people. There are four facets of my programme—a healthy India, a spiritual India , a national India and a swadeshi India . The philosophy of my teaching revolves around them."

· "MNCs loot people. If the price of potato is Rs 10 a kg, its end-product is sold for Rs 300 a kg. The money we should spend on nation building goes into MNCs' pockets. I oppose their 'zero technology' attitude—they sell us their products at exorbitant prices but do not part with their technology."

· "I have neither a bank account nor property in my name. I take money from people for a sacred cause and for nation building. Didn't Acharya Vinoba Bhave take land from the people for a pious cause? Didn't Pundit Madan Mohan Malaviya take money and alms from the people to build a university? Didn't Gandhiji receive money for his fight against the British? I have to build Patanjali Yog Peeth, a massive project which will benefit the people of our country."

· "Whatever knowledge I give to people is not taught in a university or school. These are traditional sciences practised by our great hermits. I learnt these in gurukuls. There are 1,127 branches of Vedas—a vast knowledge bank—and I am a product of that tradition."

· <b>They do not understand that an ashram is not an industry and they are not workers but volunteers. Do they have proof that they are employees? If they complain of being exploited, let me tell you that I, Ramdev, am the most exploited person in the ashram because I work 18 hours a day and do not take a single paisa. So who is being exploited, I or they?"</b>

· "Those who have a myopic approach to religion see the growing popularity of Yoga as a threat. There are certain internal forces—some MNCs—which do not like my work and create trouble for me. They have threatened to eliminate me."

· "Broadly speaking, those who will get hurt by my efforts in spreading Yoga want to remove me from their path."

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