The yoga guru is attempting to incite communal sentiments under the guise of marketing, says the senior Congress leader
BHOPAL — The coinage of “Sharbat Jihad” by yoga guru-turned-entrepreneur, Baba Ramdev, is a deliberate attempt to communalise and market his Patanjali products by invoking religious sentiments, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has said.
Coming down heavily on the Patanjali boss, Singh, who is also a former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, on Wednesday called for the registration of an FIR against him. The call for legal action follows the circulation of a controversial video in which Ramdev allegedly refers to “Sharbat Jihad” and says the proceeds from a particular brand of Sharbat would be used to build mosques and madrasas. Though Ramdev did not name the Sharbat, it is generally believed that he was referring to the popular Hamdard brand Rooh Afza.
“Baba Ramdev is once again trying to divide society by misusing religion. Through the so-called ‘Sharbat Jihad’ remark, he is not only targeting a community but also attempting to incite hatred to sell his products. This is highly condemnable and a violation of the law,” media reports cited Singh as saying.
Singh alleged that Baba Ramdev is using divisive language for commercial gains. “This is a clear attempt to incite communal sentiments under the guise of marketing. Action must be taken,” Singh stated during a press interaction.
He further urged authorities to take serious note of the issue and initiate legal proceedings against Ramdev, citing the need to curb the use of religion in commercial advertising.
The video, which has gone viral on social media, reportedly shows Baba Ramdev making statements that suggest certain communities are engaged in a “sharbat jihad,” subtly framing Patanjali’s offerings as a nationalist and religiously appropriate alternative.
He exhorted the people to think before choosing a sharbat. “If you purchase Patanjali sharbat, you will get more mutts, ashrams and more,” he is seen telling customers in the video.
Critics say the term echoes contentious phrases like “love jihad” and “land jihad,” terms often used in polarising political rhetoric.
Digvijaya Singh also appealed to law enforcement agencies to take suo motu cognisance of the issue and initiate legal proceedings under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code related to promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion.
“This is not the first time Ramdev has made such irresponsible remarks,” Singh added. “The government must ensure that no one, irrespective of their social standing, is allowed to flout the law or hurt the secular fabric of the country.”
No official response has been issued so far by either Baba Ramdev or Patanjali Ayurved Limited. However, the video has sparked a heated debate online, with netizens accusing Ramdev of engaging in religiously charged marketing, while others have come to his defence, calling the outrage politically motivated.
Legal experts say that if an FIR is registered, Baba Ramdev could be investigated under Sections 153A and 295A of the IPC, which deal with promoting enmity between groups and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
The latest development adds to the growing list of controversies surrounding the yoga guru, who has previously faced criticism for unverified medical claims, misleading advertisements, and politically provocative statements.
All eyes are now on whether authorities will take formal action or if the matter will remain limited to political sparring.
