Opposition wants action against Ramdev for beheading remark

The opposition sought action against yoga guru Ramdev for his controversial remark on the “Bharat Mata ki Jai” controversy.

On Sunday, Ramdev said if the country didn’t have laws, “we would have decapitated lakhs”. He also said that “if any religion says that do not honour the motherland, such a religion is also not in the interest of this country”. 

While the BJP kept mum on Ramdev’s barb at Sadhbhavna Sammelan (meeting for harmony) on Sunday, organised by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Rohtaq district of Haryana, opposition parties termed it as “public intimidation” and “deliberate diversionary tactic”, and sought action against the guru-cum-entrepreneur.

At a time when the BJP and NDA government is under attack for pushing Hindutva and taking away minority status of Aligarh Muslim University, party chief Amit Shah saw endorsement of its policies in the highest civilian award — the King Abdulaziz Sash — given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by King Salman bin Abdulaziz at the Royal Court in Riyadh on Sunday during an official visit.

Commenting on the honour, Shah said, “this is a matter of pride for the entire nation. It illustrates the fact that the guiding principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ has resonated all over the world and is being widely appreciated.”

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha tweeted, “Baba Ramdev’s threat to cut heads off at #RSS meet is a call to violent action & public intimidation. Mr Modi, await your action. Now!". 

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said it was a “deliberate diversionary tactic” and had nothing to do with nationalism. Yechury was of the view that Ramdev’s statement was a ploy to divert people’s attention from the problems faced by them, especially the farmers.

A miffed BJP leader said, “we are not spokespersons of Ramdev. We cannot be forced to give clarifications on what he says”.

“Some person wearing a cap stands up and says that he will not say Bharat Mata Ki Jai even if you decapitate him. Look, there is rule of law in this country, otherwise let alone one, we can behead lakhs,” Ramdev had said in a veiled counter-attack to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s recent remark.