Ramdev now says vaccine has no use
HARIDWAR: Yoga instructor Ramdev on Sunday questioned the need for Covid19 vaccines further intensifying his ongoing tussle with the Indian Medical Association (IMA), amid the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ramdev claimed he hasn’t taken the vaccine as he enjoys the dual protection of yoga and Ayurveda.
HARIDWAR: Amid his ongoing tussle with the Indian Medical Association (IMA), yoga exponent Ramdev has once again questioned the legitimacy of Covid-19 vaccines, claiming that he hasn’t taken a jab as he enjoyed the dual cover of yoga and Ayurveda. Ramdev further claimed that the fatalities caused by the pandemic showed that allopathy was not 100% effective,
“For decades, I have been practising yoga and Ayurveda, so I didn’t feel the need to get vaccinated. Over 100 crore people of India as well as in foreign countries have access to these ancient therapies. In the times to come, Ayurveda will be globally accepted,” Ramdev said.
He also alleged that there was a concerted campaign to discredit the ancient Indian system vis-à-vis allopathy.
Ramdev recently triggered major outrage after a video of him surfaced in which he was purportedly calling allopathy a “stupid science”. He later retracted those comments following objections by IMA and Union health minister Harsh Vardhan. Smarting under it, Ramdev raised 25 questions on the efficacy of modern medicine. This was followed by the IMA Uttarakhand chapter sending a ₹1,000-crore defamation notice to him, and Delhi Medical Association filing a police complaint.
Dr Ajay Khanna, general secretary of the IMA’s Uttarakhand chapter, said they are willing to answer the yoga teacher’s questions and claims in an open discussion. “The way Ramdev is slamming vaccination is quite dangerous as it will add to vaccination hesitancy in the country. World over vaccination drives are being held and here we are debating and slamming it. Ramdev has to realise the consequences his statements will have on the battle against COVID and vaccination drive. We have to end vaccination hesitancy, not add to it,” said Dr Ajay Khanna.
Meanwhile, noted spiritual ideologue, Bhuma Niketan Peeth, pontiff Swami Achityunand Maharaj labelled Swami Ramdev as a seer turned businessman who has no affinity with saint community and has been giving controversial statements to present himself as the flagbearer of Ayurveda, yoga and saints.