Coming down heavily on yoga guru Baba Ramdev, the lucknow administration has banned him from holding any public meetings in the district till May 16 following his controversial “honeymoon” jibe against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. However, not satisfied with Ramdev’s apology and EC’s action against him, the Congress has demanded his immediate arrest.
“After directives from the Election Commission, the district administration has banned programmes of yoga guru Ramdev till May 16,” a senior official in the Election Commission said on Sunday.
He said the Election Commission has also issued a fresh guideline asking people not to make “malicious” statements about the private lives of individuals. Earlier, FIRs were also filed against Ramdev, two in lucknow and a couple of others in different parts of the State, for his remarks against Gandhi.
Despite leaders from the entire political spectrum having come down heavily on Baba Ramdev for his objectionable remarks, the BJP tried to downplay the issue. BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said: “The issue should be considered closed after Baba Ramdev apologised and FIRs have been lodged against him. Now, the law will take its own course.”
On Friday, Ramdev slammed Gandhi in lucknow saying: “He goes to Dalit houses for honeymoon and picnic. Had he married a Dalit girl, his luck could have clicked and he would have become the Prime Minister.”
The Congress stepped up the attack on the yoga guru demanding his arrest. “He has insulted the Dalit community. There are certain crimes which cannot be pardoned,” party leader Rashid Alvi told reporters in Delhi. Congress spokesperson Afzal said he should be arrested and cases should be slapped against him under the SC and ST Act. The left parties and BSP too have demanded legal action against Ramdev.
Meanwhile, an Ahmedabad-based NGO has lodged an FIR Ramdev for "insulting" Dalit and demanded action against him under the SC/ST Act, police said on Sunday.