BJP MLA backs Ramdev over comments on allopathy

VARANASI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Surendra Singh has backed yoga guru Ramdev over his remark against allopathy.

“Baba Ramdev is flag-bearer of Indian system of medicine. He has started the ‘Swasth Bharat, Samarth Bharat Abhiyan’ through Ayurveda. Passing comment against revered Baba Ramdev by doctors is a condemnable act,” the MLA from Bairia assembly in Ballia district said in a post on Facebook.

“Those robbing society by making the present medical system expensive are giving lessons on morality. People who sell tablets worth Rs 10 for Rs 100 in the field of allopathy are criminals in white clothes, not well-wishers of society,” Singh said in another post.

He, however, went on to say both allopathy and Ayurveda are helpful. “Allopathy is useful but Ayurveda is no less. Physicians should serve the ailing people with this sense,” he added.

On Sunday, Ramdev was forced to withdraw a statement made in the viral video clip in which he was heard questioning some of the medicines being used to treat the coronavirus infection and saying that “lakhs have died from taking allopathic medicines for COVID-19”.

The remarks were met with vociferous protests following which union health minister Harsh Vardhan asked him to withdraw the “extremely unfortunate” statement. A day later, the yoga guru posed 25 questions to the IMA in an ‘open letter’ on his Twitter handle, asking if allopathy offered permanent relief for ailments. Amid the raging controversy, another video has surfaced on social media in which Ramdev is seen reacting to a demand for his arrest, saying “even their father cannot arrest him”.