Ramdev’s ‘sharbat jihad’ remark shocks conscience: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said Baba Ramdev’s purported remark of “sharbat jihad” on Hamdard’s Rooh Afza “shocked its conscience” and was indefensible, prompting the yoga guru to assure he will immediately take down related online content.

Justice Amit Bansal was hearing a plea of Hamdard National Foundation India against Ramdev’s Patanjali Foods Ltd and said, “It shocks the conscience of the court. It is indefensible. You (counsel for Ramdev) take instructions from your client otherwise there will be a strong order.”

Following court’s warning, Ramdev’s counsel said all advertisements — print or video — aside from social media posts over the contentious remarks would be immediately taken down.

The court directed the counsel to file an affidavit on Ramdev’s behalf and said, “I could not believe my eyes and ears when I saw this (videos).”

The order added, “Let an affidavit be also placed on record by defendant number 2 (Ramdev) stating that he undertakes he shall not issue any such statements, advertisements or tweets or social media posts in the future concerning competitors' products.”

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who was representing Hamdard, said while promoting Patanjali’s “gulab sharbat” recently, Ramdev claimed the money earned from Hamdard’s Rooh Afza was used to build madrasas and mosques.