Delhi High Court Criticizes Ramdev Over 'Sharbat Jihad' Remarks, Orders Immediate Action

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sharply criticized Patanjali founder and yoga guru Ramdev for his controversial "Sharbat Jihad" comments, which were allegedly aimed at the popular drink Rooh Afza by Hamdard Laboratories. The court referred to the remarks as "indefensible" and something that "shocks the conscience of the court."

Justice Amit Bansal, who was presiding over the case, issued a stern warning to Ramdev's counsel. He stated, "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 the court's strong remarks, Ramdev assured the high court that he would take down all videos and social media posts related to his "Sharbat Jihad" comment. Ramdev’s counsel later confirmed in court that all advertisements—whether in print, video, or on social media—related to the controversial remarks would be removed immediately.

The court took note of this assurance and directed Ramdev to file an affidavit within five days stating that he would refrain from making any further defamatory or communal remarks, advertisements, or posts targeting competitor products. The matter was scheduled for a further hearing on May 1.

The Controversial Remarks and Legal Proceedings

The controversy began on April 3, when Ramdev made remarks targeting Hamdard's Rooh Afza, suggesting that the company was using its funds for building masjids and madrasas. This led Hamdard Laboratories to file a lawsuit against Ramdev in the Delhi High Court, accusing him of making defamatory and communal statements.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Hamdard, condemned Ramdev's remarks, arguing that they were not merely disparaging but were attempts to create communal divides, akin to hate speech. "This goes beyond disparagement. This is a case of creating a communal divide," said Rohatgi. He further emphasized that such remarks should not be protected under the law of defamation.

In response to these allegations, Ramdev attempted to defend his comments. Speaking to the media on Friday, he claimed, "I haven’t taken anybody’s name, but the Rooh Afza people took ‘sharbat jihad’ on themselves. This means they are doing this ‘jihad’.” He went on to say, "If they are dedicated to Islam and are building masjids and madrasas, then they should be happy."

However, the court remained focused on the serious implications of such comments, with Justice Bansal expressing concern over the potential for religious discord.

Political and Legal Reactions

In the aftermath of Ramdev's remarks, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh took action by filing a complaint with the Bhopal police, seeking the registration of an FIR against Ramdev. Singh accused Ramdev of spreading religious hatred and urged the authorities to take legal action under sections 196(1)(a) and 299 of the Indian Penal Code, which address promoting enmity between groups based on religion, and deliberately outraging the religious feelings of a class of citizens.

Singh pointed to a video, allegedly released by Ramdev on his X account (formerly Twitter), as evidence of the attempt to inflame religious sentiments. Singh claimed that these remarks were aimed at inciting conflict and increasing the sales of Patanjali Ayurved's products.

As the case progresses, all eyes will be on the Delhi High Court's upcoming hearing on May 1, where further developments may unfold, particularly regarding the affidavit Ramdev is expected to file.