Sadhus and sants from Haridwar and other religious centres have warned Left parties not to interfere in matters of faith.

Swami Madhavashram, who claims to be the Shankaracharya of Badrinath, has warned the Left parties not to interfere in Sanatan Dharam. “Ayurveda is part of our Sanatan Dharam. No political party has any right to interfere in it,” said Swami Madhavashram. He was reacting to the controversy over Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev’s medicines.

The All Indian Akhara Parishad, a body of sadhus, has criticised Left parties for making a “mockery” of the ayurvedic medicinal system stating that they have always kept themselves away from Indian culture and heritage. “Left parties have always shown their opposition to our rich culture and heritage. We don’t understand why they are opposing Baba Ramdev,” said Swami Permanand Saraswati, General Secretary of the Parishad.

Swami Saraswati said sadhus would hold awareness rallies in religious centres like Haridwar, Allahabad and Varanasi to expose the designs of Left parties.

A section of sadhus have also decided to ban the entry of Brinda Karat in Haridwar. Mahant Rajendra Das, a VHP leader, said Karat should publicly apologise to Ramdev for defaming him and she would not be allowed to enter Haridwar.

Meanwhile, Baba Ramdev has alleged that the CPI-M, that was “making false allegations against him’, was “anti-national, and maligning Indian culture and ayurveda”.