Baba Ramdev has been trending on Twitter for all the wrong reasons.
Recently, the businessman and Yoga guru appeared on a televised interview where he called the supporters of anti-caste activists like Periyar E.V. Ramaswami and BR Ambedkar “intellectual terrorists". The interview was aired on November 11 and social media is filled with criticism of Ramdev since.
The hashtag #BoycottPatanjali started trending on Twitter on Friday followed by #ShutdownPatanjali and #ArrestRamdev on Sunday. Anti-caste activists on Twitter such as tribal leader Hansraj Meena, professor Dilip Mondal and many others called out Ramdev’s insolence and expressed outrage at being tagged “intellectual terrorists".
Many sought an apology from the Yoga guru. Taking to Twitter, Meena wrote, “How dare you (Ramdev) not apologise? How do you get this audacity? You get it from people in power. But keep in mind, we know how to make everyone bend. This kind of outrageous commentary on Ambedkar, Periyar and calling us “intellectual terrorists" will not be tolerated".
Mondal wrote, “Until now, Ramdev was only practicing “savarna-san“. Now you all are teaching him “bahujan-asan“.
All India Progressive Women’s Association’s general secretary and Communist Party of India politburo member Kavita Krishnan also called out Ramdev. “Ramdev says anti caste, anti patriarchy, working class liberators Periyar, Ambedkar, Lenin are “intellectual terrorists". Why? Because their social & political movements threaten caste, class, patriarchal oppression, exploitation!", she wrote.
प्रिय, रामदेव (@yogrishiramdev) आपने अब तक माफी नहीं माँगी, आपकी ये हिम्मत? ये हिम्मत आती कहाँ से हैं? सत्ता व हुक्मरानों से। ध्यान रहें, हम सबको झुकाने जानते हैं। पेरियार,अम्बेडकर, मूलनिवासी अस्मिता पर वाहयत टिप्पणी और हमें वैचारिक आंतकवादी कहना बर्दाश्त नहीं। #shutdownPatanjali pic.twitter.com/1ZrviDrOt1— Hansraj Meena (@ihansraj) November 17, 2019
#shutdownPatanjalihttps://t.co/pg8odVibmB— Prof. Dilip Mandal (@dilipmandal) November 17, 2019
रामदेव को बहुजनासन सिखा रहे हैं आप लोग. अब तक वे सवर्णासन ही करते रहे हैं. #ArrestRamdev— Prof. Dilip Mandal (@dilipmandal) November 17, 2019
#रामदेव_ठग_है #ArrestRamdevRamdev says anti caste, anti patriarchy, working class liberators Periyar, Ambedkar, Lenin are “intellectual terrorists". Why? Because their social & political movements threaten caste, class, patriarchal oppression, exploitation!— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) November 18, 2019
This is not the first time that Ramdev has attracted criticism for making casteist slurs. In 2014, Ramdev was severely trolled for accusing Rahul Gandhi of visiting Dalit homes for honeymoon and picnic.
Ramdev’s statement was also condemned by anti-caste organisations such as Bhim Army, All India Ambedkar Mahasabha and All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation among others with many calling him a promoter of Manusmriti, the book that codifies the caste system and is highly revered by many as a religious text.
“The words used by Ramdev will not be tolerated. He has exposed himself as a believer in the Manuwadi philosophy. We have called for a boycott of Patanjali’s products,” said Ashok Bharati, president of the Ambedkar Mahasabha, told The Telegraph. The organisation has called for public burning of Patanjali products in case Ramdev does not tender and apology and retraction of his statement.
Meanwhile, netizens have been furious on social media. A Twitter user commented that Ramdev should not be commenting on Periyar and Ambedkar, without first studying and understanding their anti-caste doctrines.
To talk about the thoughts of Br ambedkar ani periyar you need to first understand them and i think only the people who have brain can understand them..The people like ramdev deserv BONDHU thoughts ..#BONDHUramdev #ArrestRamdev— Prashant More (@Prashan38833525) November 17, 2019
#ArrestRamdevबहुजन नायको का अपमान नही सहेगा हिंदुस्तान
— Manoj Vishwakarma (@ssvmanoj) November 17, 2019
Ramdev calls Periyar a Dalit terrorist. That’s so true. Periyar caused such terror and fear in the hearts of fragile upper class people that they called him terrorist. Good to know that fear still exists in Brahmins even today. #Ramdev_Insults_Periyar #Periyar pic.twitter.com/WCtgNqXjx0— நித்யா (@nithya_shre) November 17, 2019
Ramdev’s supporters on Monday responded by floating an #ISupportRamdev hashtag to defend the Patanjali founder.
(This story was originally published on November 18, 2019)
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