Ramdev’s Dubious Concoction to Cure Corona
When the Coronavirus had still not yet entered India, and the world was trying to grapple with its onslaught, our ‘astrologer scientists’ had gone several notches ahead by researching and even discovering a medicine for the virus. The geniuses of Sangha Parivar and several politicians issued public statements that drinking cow urine could save people from the Coronavirus. Even as cow urine and cow dung were being touted as effective barriers for the entry of the virus into the country, the number of Coronavirus infected people was increasing.
Patanjali, the makers of cow-based products, spread rumors that cow urine is the medicine and used the virus to sell crates of bottles of cow urine lying unused in their warehouses. A section of the people gave in to the rumors and started consuming cow urine. Quacks also used this opportunity and people’s superstitions and beliefs to make money.
A few politicians, who are part of the government, and leaders of Sangha Parivar also claimed that onions and garlic have anti-Corona medicinal value. At the same time, the self-proclaimed Baba, Ramdev, who also heads Patanjali, revealed yet another research finding that Coronavirus can be healed by pouring mustard oil into the nose! Also, embracing yoga would give people immunity and strength to stop the infection.
Ayurveda doctors all over the country claimed that they had medicines for Corona. But the Coronavirus, unmindful of these, spread its tentacles and continued its journey all over the country. And today the country is on the verge of being called a ‘superpower’ due to the Coronavirus and a large number of infected people. Isn’t it time for us to remember the contribution of those lighting lamps, beating utensils, and fake astrologer scientists in making this feat possible?
As far as India is concerned, more than the danger of the coronavirus itself, the impact of ‘fake’ experts waiting to cheat people on the pretext of offering medicines is the real danger. And the leader of all such quacks, Baba Ramdev, has already found a ‘medicine’, for which he claims he has got government nod, and even convened a press conference to make an announcement.
A month after claiming to have received permission to manufacture the medicine, he was ready to release the medicine into the market. But the government intervened at the right time and made sure that the people are saved from this danger and the country from ignominy internationally. A case has been filed against the head of Patanjali.
Having taken permission from the government to manufacture medicines to increase immunity for cold and fever, Patanjali unilaterally announced the medicine for corona assuring that its consumption for seven days will make the virus disappear. It is obvious that Baba Ramdev is capitalizing on the confusion and anxiety of the people about the virus and trying to create a new market for Patanjali.
At a time when the efficacy of the ‘swadeshi’ products of Patanjali got exposed in the market and the products started rotting in the warehouses due to lack of demand, Ramdev used the Coronavirus to strengthen Patanjali. By coming up with a ‘fast food Maggi’ version of medicine for the Coronavirus, he is trying to use this on the gullible population, which is nothing but an attempt to monetize the people’s anxiety and mint crores of rupees.
Other than the reasons listed by the Ministry of Ayush and the government, there are hundreds of reasons why we must suspect the efficacy of Ramdev’s medicines. Patanjali has lost its reliability in the market. Releasing the local version of Maggie, Patanjali claimed it is totally lead-free. People, without expressing even an iota of doubt, bought into this and consumed the product, thereby proving their patriotism.
But in 2016, the presence of lead in Patanjali’s Maggie was revealed. In fact, doubts were raised about the quality of Maggi, and its production was stopped. Soon, the poor quality of Patanjali’s ‘swadeshi ghee’ became public. Besides, Patanjali was rebuked by the department of quality control for supplying low-quality products to institutions under the Ministry of Defence. The number of people who used their soaps and toothpaste naively and felt cheated is high. The government has repeatedly fined Patanjali for spreading wrong information and inferior quality products.
In the history of the fight for local products, the role of Rajeev Dikshit who launched several agitations supporting local goods is significant. By launching movements such as ‘Azaadi Bachao Andolan’, ‘Bharath Swabhiman Andolan’, and other similar movements across the country, he fought the Congress government.
Dikshit was part of Ramdev’s organization but gained more love and affection from the people compared to Ramdev and died in mysterious circumstances at the age of 43. It was alleged that the fake medicines of Ramdev’s Patanjali were responsible for his death which triggered discussions across the country. On the one hand, it was alleged that Dikshit was murdered, and on the other, it was alleged that his death occurred due to Patanjali’s fake medicines.
Ramdev was forced to proclaim his innocence and deny the role of Patanjali in the death of Dikshit. However, the cause of his death is still a mystery. This was the first time that doubts were raised about Patanjali medicines. Ramdev is also facing allegations that human bones are being used in his Ayurveda products and that Patanjali is adulterating ayurvedic medicines with allopathy contents.
He is also facing allegations about the mysterious disappearance and murder of his Guru Swami Shankar Dev. Ramdev’s aide, Balakrishna, is also facing charges of possessing a fake passport.
When a person with such a background claims that he has discovered medicines for Coronavirus within a month and that too without taking government permission, he must be immediately arrested and questioned.
But the government has only suspended the medicine without initiating any action against him for trying to tarnish the image of India’s healthcare system. The need for building the country on the basis of indigenous thinking cannot be disputed. The country has contributed to the growth and development of science, medicine, and technology in its own way, made possible through sustained efforts of some great minds.
But the research and findings of self-proclaimed Babas such as Ramdev clad in saffron and capitalizing on the superstition of people can only create a stigma on the concept of ‘going local’ and not help the people of the country in any way. It is high time the government starts identifying those who take gullible people for a ride and putting them behind bars. That would be the greatest contribution of the government to the swadeshi movement.
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86-year-old citizen in Bengaluru votes for 20th time; prefers visiting booth over doorstep voting
Bengaluru: Shivaramakrishna Shastri, an 86-year-old resident of CV Raman Nagar in the city, exercised his right to franchise for the 20th time in his life, visiting the polling booth at the DRDO Central University on Friday.
While he had the option of applying for doorstep voting, as provided by the Election Commission of India to voters aged 85 years and above as well as People with Disabilities (PwD), Shastri preferred to go up to the polling booth to cast vote. He came to the booth accompanied by his son and daughter-in-law on the occasion and was taken in a wheel chair by the policemen at the booth to cast his vote.
Many other voters found Shastri's spirit and resolution to not miss voting an inspirational gesture for all youngsters and new voters in the city to imbibe.
Shastri explaining why he preferred to visit the polling booth although he needed help, saying, "Voting is a citizen's right. Casting vote at home, by opting for doorstep voting, will not highlight the importance of the ballot. I always prefer coming to a polling booth and voting, for this joy of a special experience. I also take into consideration the fact that coming to a booth gives me an opportunity to meet other people. This is not possible if I vote from home."
