It is also a setback for those who were hoping that this pandemic would make people put their faith in Science rather than the mumbo-jumbo superstitious bilge that is sold as cures to the gullible.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev. Pic/AFP
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev found himself in back-track mode once again, after being rapped on the knuckles by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. Ramdev had said that allopathy is stupid.
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The popular figure has been rightly slammed by doctors and the minister has asked him to apologise and retract his statement. This is especially galling at a time like this when our men and women in white coats are doing stirring deeds for the nation at the forefront of the Coronavirus fight.
It is also a setback for those who were hoping that this pandemic would make people put their faith in Science rather than the mumbo-jumbo superstitious bilge that is sold as cures to the gullible.
There has to be action on Ramdev. A rap on the knuckles is not enough. Being the huge influencer he is, people will not take his retraction seriously and may actually start believing that modern medicine is not needed, not just in Coronavirus treatment but other ailments, too.
Trying to now hide behind a charade of only reading out a WhatsApp message is not going to cut it. We have to recall that the guru with the cult following also touted Coronil as a Corona cure some time ago and then waffled and hammed his way through and out of the controversy when called out.
This is treating one who has close ties with the ruling party with kid gloves. If the government has to show there is parity in dealing with people, free and fair investigation and action against Baba Ramdev is needed. He cannot get away by claiming that everything he said has been misinterpreted or he meant to say that, and not this.
Maybe it is time to practise a new asana, action-asana and if there are grounds, arrest-asana too.