Adding fire to the raging Bharat Mata Ki Jai controversy, Yoga guru Ramdev has said that but for the rule of law he would have “beheaded” lakhs of people for refusing to chant the slogan, drawing sharp condemnation from Opposition parties.
Ramdev’s outburst came against the backdrop of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s recent remarks that he will not chant Bharat Mata ki Jai even if a knife is put to his throat. The Yog Guru while addressing a ‘Sadbhavna Sammelan’ in Rohtak a day before had made the controversial remarks.
A group of civil society members, led by former Home Minister Subhash Batra, on Monday lodged a police complaint against Yoga Guru Ramdev for delivering a “hate speech” at ‘Sadbhavna Sammelan in Rohtak.
Subhash Batra has filed a police complaint and said that if a first information report is not filed, he will move court.
The Sammelan was organised under the aegis of ‘Samajik Samrasta Manch’ in Rohtak, which had been the epicentre of the recent incidents of violence during the Jat stir for caste-based quota.
At the Sammelan, Ramdev had said that there is a rule of law and he respect the Constitution of this country. “Hum is desh ke kanoon aur samvidhan ka samman karte hain, nahi toh koi Bharat Mata ka apmaan kare, ek nahi, hum hazaron, lakhon ke sheesh kalam karne ka samarth rakhte hain (We respect this country’s law and the Constitution, otherwise if anybody disrespects Bharat Mata, we have the capability of beheading not one but thousands and lakhs.”
Chanting the slogan is not worship of any religion, the Yoga Guru had said, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai bolna koi kisi dharm ki pooja nahi hai. Bharat Mata Ki Jai bolna kisi ki aarti utarna nahi hai. Bharat Mata Ki Jai bolna koi dharm pooja nahi hai, yeh toh apne rashtra ke gaurav ka, apne rashtra ke swabhiman ka, apne rashtra ki garima ka prashan hai, aur hum Hindu hon, hum Sikh hon, hum Muslim hon, hum Isai hon, hum sabse pehle Hindustani hain (It is a matter of national honour, pride, prestige. We may be Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Christians, but we are Indians first).”
Meanwhile, Haryana’s Health Minister Anil Vij of the BJP defended Baba Ramdev, saying, “People who live and eat in this country must say Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”
Congress and Aam Admi Party has lashed out at Ramdev over his staunch nationalist comment against those who refused to chant ‘Bharat mata ki jai’ and demanded his arrest.
“Baba Ramdev’s threat to ‘cut heads off’ at RSS meet is a call to violent action and public intimidation. Mr Modi, await your action. Now!” Congress spokesman Sanjay Jha tweeted.
Voicing on the same tangent, Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashutosh also demanded that Ramdev should be arrested. “This man should be immediately arrested and sent to jail. Such people have no place in a civilised society,” Ashutosh said.