Yoga guru Ramdev writes to Rajnath Singh, refuses Padma Vibushan award

NEW DELHI: Yoga guru Ramdev has written to the home ministry refusing to accept the Padma Vibhushan award as part of the Republic Day honours.

The letter, written on the letterhead of his Patanjali Yoga Ashram states that he had heard of the prospective honour for him and would have "humbly decline" the same. "I am a sanyasi, for a sanyasi encomiums and criticisms were the same. Samatvam Yog Ucchayatey, or equanimity in the face of any circumstance," the letter states as his reason for refusing the award.

The ET had first said on January 6th that he would be receiving this award along with senior BJP leader L K Advani. The awards are announced on the eve of Republic Day on January 26th.