Congress seeks case against Ramdev for defaming doctors

The Swami Ramdev-Indian Medical Association (IMA) fight took a political colour on Thursday, with the Uttarakhand Congress demanding immediate police action against the yoga guru. Uttarakhand Congress president Pritam Singh slammed Ramdev for maligning allopathic doctors.

“Ramdev has hurt doctors by his statements against allopathy treatment. Doctors have been working day and night during the Covid-19 pandemic and risking their lives for the common people. The Centre and the state should immediately act against Ramdev and file a case against him,” he said.

The Uttarakhand government has been appealing to both parties to focus on combating the pandemic. “All the sensible people must refrain from making allegations and counter-allegations during the pandemic. They must use their experience and expertise for battling the Covid-19,” said the state government spokesman, agriculture minister Subodh Uniyal.


Patanjali Ayurved chairman Acharya Balkrishna, a close aide of Ramdev, said: “We are not against allopathic treatment, but we will not tolerate anything against Ayurveda and Yoga.” Meanwhile, the IMA served a defamation notice on Ramdev, demanding an apology from him within 15 days, failing which it said it will demand compensation of Rs 1,000 crore.