Local court orders inquiry into Ramdev's 'honeymoon' remark

AHMEDABAD: A local court here ordered an inquiry into yoga guru Ramdev's controversial "honeymoon" remarks against Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Ahmedabad Rural Court Magistrate M C Bhatt ordered the Election Commission and the concerned investigative agency to present the video or audio tapes of Ramdev's remarks made in Lucknow for an inquiry into its contents.

The court has posted the case for next hearing on May 6.

The court order came in the wake of two complaints filed by city-based citizens Paresh Waghela and Ashwin Vania seeking action against Ramdev.

Ramdev, a supporter of BJP's PM nominee Narendra Modi, had made the remark in Lucknow on April 25 while targeting Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

"He goes to Dalits' house for honeymoon and picnic. Had he married a Dalit girl, then his luck could have changed and he would have become the prime minister," Ramdev had said.

Later, when he visited Gujarat, Ramdev expressed regret for his remarks and said his utterances were not intended to hurt the sentiments of Dalit community.

Yesterday, a city-based NGO had lodged an FIR against Ramdev for "insulting" Dalits through his "honeymoon" remark and demanded action against him under the SC/ST Act.

After registering the FIR, the city police forwarded it to the Mahanagar police station in Lucknow.