Yoga guru Ramdev on Saturday expressed regret for his controversial “honeymoon and picnic” remark against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi even as an FIR was lodged against him by the Uttar Pradesh Police. Parties across political lines slammed him for his “anti-Dalit’ statement but the BJP came out strongly defending him.
Ramdev claimed his remarks were “misrepresented” and insisted he meant that the Congress vice-president visited homes of the poor for “publicity stunt, picnic or tourism”. “The term honeymoon period is over is commonly used in political language.
I tried to use it in that sense,” Ramdev claimed at Vadodara, where he is organising a Yoga camp. “I had no intention to insult honourable Rahul Gandhi or Dalit community. But this is also true that Rahul Gandhi goes to houses of poor and uses that opportunity as publicity stunt, picnic or tourist spot,” he said. “I express regret if the use of that term has hurt the feelings of any community, especially Dalit community,” he added.
However, an FIR has been lodged against Ramdev at Mahanagar police station under relevant section of Section 171(g) IPC (false statement in connection with an election),” said Additional Superintendent of Police Habibul Hassan. The FIR was lodged by police after analysing video clipping of Ramdev’s statement made on Friday. Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh demanded an apology from Ramdev for his comments and wished BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi reacted to “Ramdev’s anti-dalit remark”.
BJP defended Ramdev saying his words should not be interpreted the way Congress leaders perceive them. “Ramdev is a saint. When he selects words like honeymoon, which is an English word, the context should be understood and its usage seen and not be misconstrued...It did not have the kind of meaning as Congress leaders were viewing it as per their own perception,” BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.
Udit Raj, a dalit leader and a BJP lok Sabha candidate from the North-West Delhi, came out to defend Ramdev arguing he said nothing “wrong” against dalits and his intention against them was also not “wrong”. “The word honeymoon is viewed in different contexts. There is honeymoon between parties, people and used for the business community. It is also used to say that (Arvind) Kejriwal’s honeymoon has ended. It should be seen in this context and no wrong meaning should be construed to Ramdev’s words,” he said.
Demanding stern action, the CPI(M) demanded prosecution of Ramdev under the SC/ST Act for his “uncivilised statements” against Dalit women and charged him with demeaning Dalit women. It also asked the Election Commission to take suo motu notice of his “outrageous comments and take appropriate action”. BSP workers and activists of dalit organisations staged demonstration at several places against Ramdev’s remarks and sought action against him. In Phagwara, Punjab protesters blocked traffic on national highway and burnt effigies.