Ramdev's 'sharbat jihad' remark shocks court's conscience: Delhi HC
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court on Tuesday observed that Yoga guru Ramdev's purported remark of "sharbat jihad" on Hamdard's Rooh Afza shook its conscience and was indefensible.
Justice Amit Bansal, who was hearing a plea by Hamdard National Foundation India against Ramdev's Patanjali Foods Ltd, said, "It shocks the conscience of the court. It is indefensible. You (counsel for Ramdev,) instructions from your client otherwise there will be a strong order".
The counsel for Hamdard apprised the court that recently, while promoting Patanjali's gulab sharbat, Ramdev claimed that the money earned from Hamdard's Rooh Afza was used to build madrasas and mosques.
Later, Ramdev defended his remark and said that he did not name any brand or community.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Hamdard, said the case goes beyond disparagement and it was a case of creating "communal divide".
"This amounts to hate speech. He says it is a sharbat jihad. He should carry on his business. Why is he troubling us?" the senior lawyer said.
As the counsel who had to argue the case for Ramdev was not available, the court would take up the matter again after some time.
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Davangere South bypoll: Congress ahead by narrow lead after 14th round
Davangere: The Congress candidate is leading in the Davangere South Assembly by-election after the completion of the 14th round of counting.
According to the latest figures, the Congress has secured 46,460 votes, while the BJP stands at 39,037 votes, trailing by 7,423 votes.
The SDPI candidate has polled 15,303 votes so far.
Counting is still underway, and final results are awaited.
