The Dalit community is miffed with the statements made by Baba Ramdev about Rahul Gandhi that he visits Dalit homes for honeymoon and picnic. They have protested against Baba Ramdev and have demanded stringent action to be taken against him. Prakash Ambedkar grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had expressed his outrage against Ramdev and also addressed him as pervert.
Talking to AV, Prakash Ambedkar said, “Baba Ramdev is a pervert leader. He is issuing irresponsible statements for making Narendra Modi the Prime Minister. He needs to be arrested for issuing such remarks and insulting the Dalit community. Stern action must be taken against him for making such derogatory statements.”
On the other hand, RPI chief Ramdas Athawle too demanded strict action against Baba Ramdev for his remarks against the Dalits. He condemned a controversial statement made by Baba Ramdev.
Athawale said that Ramdev had hurted the sentiments of Dalits across the country by his remark. It was all right for Ramdev to criticise Gandhi’s visits to Dalit homes as tourism, but the yoga guru should have avoided making inappropriate remarks about the community. Athawale also said political leaders should not make personal attacks against each other and that they should address the issues of the people in their campaign speeches.
The RPI (A) leader sought legal action against the yoga guru for the remark, notwithstanding that he had apologised and even asked forgiveness.
NCP’s women’s cell chief Vidya Chavan led a protest of the party’s women workers at Azad Maidan and condemned Ramdev’s remarks that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi visits Dalit homes for “honeymoon” and said the yoga preacher should be booked under atrocities act and arrested.
NCP Woman wing also slapped the effigy of Baba Ramdev by using sandals and demanded to take strict action against him. NSUI wing too protested against him. Mumbai Youth Congress held a dharna against Ramdev at Azad Maidan. Ganesh Kumar Yadav, the youth wing chief demanded that Maharashtra government should ban Ramdev’s entry into the state, otherwise it would create law and order problem. “We also challenge Ramdev to enter Mumbai and conduct his programmes,” Yadav said.
Maharashtra EGS Minister Nitin Raut demanded immediate arrest of Yoga guru Ramdev for his alleged “anti-dalit” and “anti-women” remarks and wrote to President Pranab Mukherjee, seeking his intervention.
“Spontaneous protests were taking place in various parts of the country as dalit sentiments have been hurt. Police cases have been filed against Ramdev in Nagpur as well,” said Raut, a dalit leader from Nagpur.
Condemning the remarks, Raut said it showed the anti-dalit and anti-women mindset of the RSS and BJP.
“What Narendra Modi cannot talk, BJP is getting Ramdev to say in public,” he alleged.
He said that Ramdev, who has worked in the field of yoga to heal ailments of people, should not talk politics in such a manner.
Ramdev subsequently said that he had no intention to insult Dalits and that his remark had been misinterpreted.
