The social media video where ramdev of patanjali foods is seen promoting his new sharbat is a new low in his despicable self. Starting as a national icon promoting yoga he quickly moved to Ayurveda and has become an fmcg giant. Using his popularity as a yoga guru he claimed spiritual authority and meddled in politics with his anti black money campaign against the upa government and openly campaigning for narendra modi on communal lines. He used his currency in the new political discourse and became the biggest advertiser in the country. Even then this video is repugnant beyond imagination. He has tried to present his product as an hindutva alternative to hamdard’s roohafza which he said financed mosques and carried out what he called “sharbat jihad” and that Hindus should avoid buying it. He was recently in the Supreme Court apologizing for his derision of modern medicine in the middle of the COVID pandemic and promoting his products claiming they would improve immunity. His products like honey have failed quality controls but his hate currency endures. It’s time the courts take note and if not the market should react even if it ruffles the hindutva thuggery.
