Baba Ramdev’s talk on Gandhi sparks row

Jabalpur/Indore: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has courted the wrath of followers of the father of the nation, Mahamta Gandhi, for his comment that Gandhi’s non-violence alone did not achieve freedom for the country. Ramdev, hugely popular for propagating the healing of diseases through yoga, said the country should not ignore the contributions of revolutionaries in its fight against British colonial rule.

He said this in Jabalpur, where he is imparting yoga training to Army personnel. "See, I am a follower of penance, sacrifice, non-violence and truth. But I am also a follower of revolutionaries. I live a simple life. I don’t do what everyone else does. But I believe that the freedom of our country is because of the sacrifice of martyrs," Baba Ramdev said.

"If somebody says that the country achieved independence without arms, without bloodshed, I believe that is an insult to the country’s martyrs," he added. Gandhi’s followers, mainly activists of the Congress Party, were quick to retort.

They charged Ramdev with insulting the Father of the Nation. Youth workers of the Congress burnt posters of Ramdev and shouted slogans against him. Angry protestors urged Baba Ramdev to concentrate on Yoga only. "We believe what he (Ramdev) said is not correct. He should just concentrate on yoga only," said Devendre Singh Yadav, a leader of the Youth Congress in Indore.

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