Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Tuesday informed Delhi High Court that all the advertisements, whether print or videos, against Hamdard National Foundation India’s Rooh Afza product will be taken down. Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar representing Ramdev and Patanjali Foods Limited made the submission before Justice Amit Bansal. The Court was hearing Hamdard’s suit against Patanjali and Ramdev over the controversy of Yoga guru’s “Sharbat Jihad” remark against Rooh Afza product.
Earlier this month, Ramdev, while promoting Patanjali’s rose sharbat, claimed that the money earned from Hamdard’s rooh afza is used to build madrasas and mosques. Later, Ramdev defended his remark and said that he did not name any brand or community. Hamdard filed the suit against Ramdev seeking removal of the Yoga Guru’s videos on the remark from social media. Representing Patanjali and Ramdev, Nayar submitted that his clients were not against any religion. On this, the Court said that the aforesaid stand should come on an affidavit.
Nayar, on instructions, informed Court that all the impugned advertisements, whether print or video, shall be taken down by Patanjali and Ramdev. Court then asked Ramdev to place on record an affidavit undertaking that he shall not issue any statements or advertisements or social media posts in the future which Hamdard is aggrieved of. Justice Bansal granted five days time to Ramdev to file an affidavit and listed the matter for hearing next on May 01.
Earlier today, the Court orally remarked that Baba Ramdev’s “Sharbat Jihad” remark shocked its conscience and was indefensible. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for Hamdard and submitted that it was a shocking case that not only goes beyond the disparagement of Rooh Afza product but also is a case of “communal divide.” He said that Ramdev’s remarks is akin to a hate speech. Rohatgi said that by his remarks, Ramdev has attacked Hamdard on the basis of religion as he named it “Sharbat Jihad.
Rohatgi said that Ramdev has a well known name and can sell Patanjali’s products without disparaging any other product. On Ramdev’s previous conduct, Rohatgi referred to Supreme Court proceedings wherein suo moto contempt was initiated against Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna and they were asked to issue a public apology for publishing misleading advertisements and making comments against Allopathic medicines in breach of undertaking given to the Court. Title: Hamdard National Foundation India Patanjali Food Limited & Anr. (Live Law)
