Dainik Nation News Portal
DAINIK NATION BUREAU/NEW DELHI
The Delhi High Court has reprimanded yoga guru and Patanjali Ayurveda founder Baba Ramdev on Tuesday over his controversial remarks dubbed as “sharbat jihad” allegedly targeting Hamdard’s iconic drink Rooh Afza. In response, Baba Ramdev has assured the court he would remove all such videos and posts from social media.
During the hearing, Justice Amit Bansal termed Ramdev’s statements “inappropriate” and said they “shock the conscience of the court.” The remarks came in connection with a petition filed by Hamdard National Foundation India against Patanjali Foods Limited. The petitioner alleged that Ramdev, while promoting Patanjali’s Gulab Sharbat, made claims suggesting that the profits from Rooh Afza were being used to fund mosques and madrasas.
Hamdard’s legal team argued that the statement was not only defamatory but also aimed at promoting communal disharmony. The court rejected Ramdev’s defense in which he claimed he had not named any specific brand or community.
Justice Bansal issued a stern warning, saying that if immediate corrective action was not taken, the court would be compelled to pass strict orders. Following this, Ramdev’s counsel assured the court that all related content would be taken down promptly.
The controversy has once again put Ramdev under public scrutiny for his provocative statements. It has also triggered concerns regarding the misuse of commercial platforms for communal polarization and the tarnishing of long-established brands like Rooh Afza.
