Patanjali Ayurved was strongly defended yesterday by yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who said that the FMCG firm has not participated in any deceptive propaganda. This is in reaction to the business being reprimanded by the Supreme Court for making misleading representations.

Speaking at a news conference, Ramdev denied the rumours going around on different media outlets that the Supreme Court had censured Patanjali. He explained, saying, "Since yesterday, on different media sites, one news story has gone viral that the Supreme Court (SC) reprimanded Patanjali. SC said that if you do false propaganda, then you will be fined... We respect SC. But we are not doing any false propaganda."

Ramdev continued by claiming that a group of medical professionals is disseminating fake propaganda about him and his business, focusing specifically on Ayurveda and yoga. "A few doctors have formed a group that continuously does propaganda against yoga, Ayurveda, etc... If we are liars, then fine us Rs 1000 crore, and we are also ready for the death penalty. But if we are not liars, then punish the ones who are really spreading the false propaganda. For the past 5 years, propaganda has been going on targeting Ramdev and Patanjali."

Patanjali Ayurved was directed by the Supreme Court yesterday to refrain from publishing deceptive statements and ads degrading contemporary medical systems.

A fine of Rs 1 crore

The court threatened to punish every product Rs 1 crore in the event that a false representation was made that it could heal a certain illness.

"All such false and misleading advertisements of Patanjali Ayurved have to stop immediately." During an oral hearing on a request by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), a bench made up of justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra stated, "The court will take any such infraction very seriously..."

Earlier, on August 23, 2022, the SC had sent notifications to the Ministry of Ayush, the Union Health Ministry, and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. based on the IMA's claim that Ramdev had launched a smear campaign against the immunisation programme and recent medications.

Following Ramdev's criticism of allopathy and allopathic practitioners, the court took a hard line against him, ruling that he should be restrained from abusing medical professionals and alternative treatment modalities.

"What happened to this Guru Swami Ramdev Baba?... Ultimately we respect him as he popularised yoga. We all go for this. But, he should not criticise the other system. What is the guarantee that Ayurveda whatever system he is following will work? You see the type of advertisements accusing all the doctors as if they are killers or something. Huge advertisements (have been given)," the bench led by the now-retired CJI N V Ramana had stated.

You might also be intersted in - IMA criticizes Patanjali’s claims, says “Why is Government spending Rs 35,000 cr on Vaccination Drive if Coronil can cure Covid-19”