A face-off between yoga guru Swami Ramdev and CPM leader Brinda Karat has snowballed into a national row over the latter’s accusations that his ayurvedic medicines were spiked with human and animal remains. The latest to join the fray, which is acquiring political overtones, is Railway Minister Laloo Prasad who threw his weight behind guru.

Swami Ramdev, who has million of followers around the country and is a popular figure on television with his yoga exercises, has been accused by Brinda of using human bones and animal testicles to add potency to his drugs that claim to cure a wide variety of diseases, including cancer and sexual ailments.

Laloo’s comments came a day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav backed the spiritual leader. Demonstrations by the guru’s followers against the communists were also reported from several places around the country.
 

Both the Yadavs credited the Swami of waging war against multinational companies by producing cheap and curable ayurvedic medicines. “Multinationals are opposed to people like ... Ramdev. They (MNCs) are against those who propagate indigenous treatment,” Laloo said. “So long as herbal medicines help people, it hardly matters if they contain bones of human beings or devils.”

Mulayam Singh Yadav had said on Wednesday: “The media had levelled the allegations against Ramdev earlier. Karat is now basing her allegations on these reports. I am with Ramdev as he has waged a war against multinational drug companies. Ramdev is promoting indigenous medicines.”

The CPM, however, stood by Karat. It also took to task Uttaranchal CM N D Tiwari for describing the issue as a personal spat between Swami Ramdev and Karat.

On Thursday morning, Ramdev’s supporters gathered in front of the CPM office in central Delhi, raised slogans against Brinda, burnt her effigy and tried to barge into the building.

Provoked, CPM members came out and shouted slogans against Ramdev. At least 40 supporters of Swami Ramdev were detained. There were scuffles as the police swung into action.

A CPM statement said: “The reported statement of N D Tiwari... is extremely surprising and unfortunate.”

It said Ramdev’s pharmacy had breached the Indian Drugs and Cosmetics Act by adding animal matter to herbal medicines and violated labour laws when it “illegally dismissed 110 workers”.

The party also blamed Hindu groups affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for the trouble outside the CPM headquarters and alleged that Delhi Police did not provide enough protection to its office. “The CPM condemns the VHP-RSS hoodlums for trying to attack the party’s central office.”

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss had confirmed on Wednesday that lab tests proved that the medicines Brinda had purchased from Ramdev’s Divya Yog Pharmacy violated licensing and labelling provisions of the Indian drugs act.

The central government has referred the matter to the drug controller of Uttaranchal.

Ramdev, best known for his programmes on several spiritual TV channels, has denied the charges. He has said he would welcome any inquiry into the contents of his ayurvedic medicines.

The samples, which tested positive for animal and human traces, were examined at laboratories in Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata, Minister Ramadoss said.