Widely popular tele-guru Baba Ramdev has said that he has no plans to join politics, though he would like to guide politicians in the right direction.
"Neither in the past was I associated with politics, nor today I have any association with politics and I will never join politics. It is out of question for me to jump into politics," Baba Ramdev told reporters here on Monday.
He, however, added that "I will guide politicians in the right direction, and my doors will remain open for them for my help to ensure all-round development (of the country)."
Ramdev was addressing a press conference at the official residence of Urban Development Minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey, where he is staying for his seven-day yoga camp here that began on Sunday.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has accorded Ramdev the status of a state guest, the first time such a status was given to a spiritual leader.
He said that about 100,000 trainers of his Divyog Mandir Trust would be ready to teach yoga by the end of this year. "These trainers will popularize and spread yoga in every household of the country free of cost," he said.
Denying the charge that he had commercialized yoga, he said it was a baseless allegation made by some people with vested interests.
"Though we charge some amount for participating in our yoga camps, it is for a fund to build a mega yoga health centre in Haridwar," he said.
Ramdev also refuted the charge that he was spreading superstitious beliefs and blind faith in the name of yoga. "I have not spread blind faith. I am against superstition and astrology. I propagate yoga, which is a pure science," he said in a reply to a question.
"I am for a people-friendly yoga to ensure good health for all," he said, adding that yoga is completely scientific that can cure chronic diseases.
Ramdev added that people world over would switch from modern medical science to yoga in 10 to 20 years.
He is made a state guest by state government led by Nitish Kumar. It is the first time a spiritual guru was accorded such a status.
Earlier this year, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPIM) leader Brinda Karat had alleged that some ayurvedic medicines manufactured by Baba Ramdev' pharmacy used animal and human bones.
