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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LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
