Ramdev row: doctors hold "black day" protests, file defamation suit

IMA also served a defamation notice to the Yoga Guru, demanding a written apology within 15 days

Ground Report | New Delhi: Reacting against a series of controversial remarks by Ramdev Baba questioning allopathic medicine and vaccines, the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) declared nationwide "black day" protests. Several doctors were holding signs and wearing black ribbons as a symbolic protest. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) had earlier filed a police report against Ramdev over his untrue representation of allopathy.

IMA also served a defamation notice to the Yoga Guru, demanding a written apology within 15 days. If he fails to provide the public apology and a video countering earlier claims, they will sue for Rs. 1000 crores as compensation from him. This intensifying row with allopathic practitioners has also taken social media by storm. However, Swami Ramdev has remained defiant despite the backlash.

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The row started early last week, when a video of Ramdev calling allopathy "a stupid and bankrupt science" went viral. In the video, he also claimed that lakhs of people had died due to allopathic medicines prescribed for Covid-19. The remarks received severe backlash, with FORDA alleging that this would add on to "vaccine hesitancy" in the country. Medical professionals are also irked by the comments disregarding their work and sentiments.

Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan asked Ramdev to withdraw the statement in a strongly-worded letter. Following this, he withdrew the remarks. Although, the Swami later went on to post a list of 25 questions, inquiring if allopathy had any permanent fixes for diseases. He also said that if allopathy is so perfect, then doctors shouldn't fall sick at all. So far, this only intensified the row further.

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Recently, in response to hashtags such as #ArrestRamdev, #ArrestQuackRamdev, he said "not even their father can arrest Swami Ramdev". IMA-Uttarakhand officials said that the remark was "arrogant". FORDA has already demanded the yoga guru face action under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. There is a push for charging the Baba with sedition as well.

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