Journalism of Courage
A massive outrage erupted over Baba Ramdev's controversial comment that Rahul Gandhi visits Dalit homes for "honeymoon and picnic" on Sunday (April27) in Delhi and Vadodara. The yoga guru expressed regret to the Dalit community even as an FIR was filed against him by Uttar Pradesh police for his remarks.
Samata Sainik Dal protests against Baba Ramdev at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. (IE Photo: Prem Nath Pandey)
BJP came out in defence of the yoga guru saying he is a "saint" whose words should be viewed in the context in which they were made and not as per the perception of Congress leaders while Congress termed as "shameful" the remarks and demanded an unconditional apology from him as also Narendra Modi alleging the yoga guru is part of his coterie. (IE Photo: Prem Nath Pandey)
Ramdev, who was in Vadodara to attend a yoga camp, however, insisted the Congress vice president visited homes of the poor for "publicity stunt, picnic or tourism". (IE Photo: Prem Nath Pandey)
"The statement I made has been misrepresented. The term honeymoon period is over is commonly used in political language. I tried to use it in that sense," Ramdev claimed. (IE Photo: Prem Nath Pandey)
"I had no intention to insult honourable Rahul Gandhi or Dalit community. But this is also true that Rahul Gandhi goes to houses of poor and uses that opportunity as publicity stunt, picnic or tourism," he said, adding "I express regret if the use of that term has hurt the feelings of any community, especially Dalit community." (IE Photo: Prem Nath Pandey)
Ramdev had said at a programme in Lucknow yesterday that Rahul Gandhi visited Dalit homes "for honeymoon and picnic". (IE Photo: Prem Nath Pandey)
