‘Tender a written apology or face Rs 1,000 crore defamation case’: IMA Uttarakhand to Ramdev

After the Indian Medical Association’s letter to the Health Minister demanding action against yoga guru and entrepreneur for mocking modern science and allopathic drugs, its Uttarakhand chapter has demanded a written apology from Ramdev or threatened to file a Rs 1000 crore defamation case against him.

Gaon Connection
| Updated: May 26th, 2021

In a video circulating on social media, Ramdev was seen mocking the approved allopathy drugs. Image used for representation purpose. Photo: Pinterest

Three days after the Indian Medical Association (IMA), a national-level association of doctors of modern medical science, shot off a letter to Health Minister Harsh Vardhan demanding to take action against yoga guru Ramdev for the latter’s alleged derogatory remarks against modern medicine, the Uttarakhand chapter of the IMA has sent a defamation notice of Rs 1,000 crore [Rs 10 billion] to the yoga guru.

In the notice dated May 25 sent to Ramdev, IMA Uttarakhand has warned that if he doesn’t post a video countering the statements given by him and tender a written apology within the next 15 days, then a sum of Rs 1,000 crores will be demanded from him.

In a video circulating on social media, Ramdev was seen mocking the approved allopathy drugs. He allegedly said ‘modern allopthy ek aisi stupid aur diwaliya science hai’ (modern allopathy is a stupid and bankrupt science). This was highlighted by the doctors’ association in its press statement issued on May 22. It also alleged that Ramdev claimed that Remdesivir, Faviflu, and all other approved drugs by DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India) have failed and millions of people have died due to the consumption of allopathy medicines.

Two days back on May 24, the Indian Medical Association Uttaranchal State Branch wrote a letter to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat to ‘take prompt and strict action’ against Ramdev’s remarks on allopathic medical profession and medical profession. 

The letter signed by Uttarakhand IMA state secretary Ajay Khanna said that Ramdev’s derogatory remarks have ‘demoralized’ and ‘angered’ the medical fraternity.

A large part of Ramdev’s multinational consumer packaged goods company, Patanjali, is based in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.

Four days back on May 22, the Indian Medical Association (national level) had issued a press statement over Ramdev’s alleged statements against allopathy. It urged Vardhan to prosecute Ramdev for ‘disobeying’ and ‘causing danger to the life of many’ by discouraging people to take approved allopathy drugs. The association threatened to move the judiciary if no action was taken.

Also Read: ‘Enough is enough’: IMA demands action against Ramdev under the Epidemic Act

In response, the health ministry issued a letter the next day to Ramdev directing him to retract his statements. The Union health minister called Ramdev’s remarks as ‘inappropriate’.

Meanwhile, the Haridwar-based Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust has denied allegations by the doctors’ association. It said the yoga guru was reading out a WhatsApp forwarded message in the video that has gone viral on social media.

After the health minister’s letter, Ramdev withdrew his statements on allopathic medicine. “We do not oppose modern medical science and allopathy. We believe that allopathy has shown immense progress in surgery and the lifesaving system and served humanity. My statement has been quoted as part of a WhatsApp message that I was reading during a meeting of volunteers. I am sorry if it has hurt anyone’s sentiment,” wrote Ramdev in his letter dated May 23 to Vardhan.

However, the yoga guru also went ahead and issued a press release on May 24 asking 25 questions to the IMA highlighting the shortcomings of allopathy. Ramdev asked the doctors’ association for permanent solutions to a few most common diseases.