Congress
workers burn posters of Swami Ramdev, accuse him of insulting Mahatma
Gandhi
Hindu
Voice UK, December 2006
No
stranger to controversy, legendary yoga-guru Swami Ramdev has once
again ignited the wrath of irate protestors, who accuse him of insulting
the memory of Mahatma Gandhi.
Whilst
teaching yoga to Army personnel in Madhya Pradesh, Swami Ramdev expressed
his belief that the freedom of India was achieved by the "sacrifice
of martyrs" and not through non-violent methods alone. He is
quoted as saying "I am a follower of penance, sacrifice, non-violence
and truth, but am also a follower of revolutionaries…if somebody
says that the country achieved independence without arms, without
bloodshed, I believe it is an insult to the country's martyrs".
The statements
made by Swami Ramdev sparked almost instant backlash from many Gandhi
followers, mainly from the Congress Party of India, who said that
Swami Ramdev had "insulted the Father of the Nation." Youth
workers of the Congress Party burnt posters of Swami and hurled slogans
at him.
"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.
The Congress
Party of India, which was once guided by Mahatma Gandhi, is the oldest
political party and leading member of the current coalition government.
Clarifying
his stand, Swami Ramdev said he was paying respect to the martyrs
and never intended to insult Mahatma Gandhi.
"I
cannot insult the Father of the Nation. I cannot even think of insulting
Mahatma Gandhi," Baba Ramdev said.
"I
have never used any kind of insulting phrases for Bapuji (Mahatma
Gandhi). I only said that inarguably Bapuji has contributed in the
independence of the country, but other freedom fighters have also
given their life for their nation. But 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.
He blamed
the media for wrongly presenting his comments in support of the freedom
fighters as an insult to Gandhi.
Hindu
Voice comment:
One cannot
help being struck by a sense of irony that people who claim to be
protesting on behalf of Mahatma Gandhi are going around doing loutish
things like burning posters, just because they disagree with something
that Swami Ramdev has said. At any rate, it is difficult to interpret
Swami Ramdev's comments as an insult to Mahatma Gandhi. Clearly, Swami
Ramdev simply expressed what he believes, and it seems quite bizarre
that this should make anybody angry.
