Dalit activists call for Patanjali boycott after Ramdev’s remark on Periyar, Ambedkar

In a TV interview, Patanjali founder Ramdev had called supporters of Periyar and B.R. Ambedkar 'intellectual terrorists'.

A file image of Ramdev showcasing his brand's products | Facebook

New Delhi: Several Dalit activists and tribal groups have called for a boycott of Patanjali products after Ramdev, the brand’s founder, allegedly called supporters of anti-caste activists Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and B.R Ambedkar “intellectual terrorists” during a TV interview.

Twitter users have protested against his comment, with #ArrestRamdev, #BoycottPatanjali and #ShutDownPatanjali trending on the micro-blogging site. While the hashtag #BoycottPatanjali started trending on Twitter Friday, it was #ShutdownPatanjali and #ArrestRamdev Sunday.

In an interview to Republic TV on 11 November, the Patanjali founder also said “intellectual terrorists” were trying to divide the society.

Activist Hansraj Meena, Professor Dilip Mandal and All India Progressive Women’s Association’s general secretary and Communist Party of India Politburo member Kavita Krishnan were among those who called out Ramdev for his comment.

Meena, in his tweet, said Ramdev was “attacking the identity of indigenous people”.

https://twitter.com/ihansraj/status/1196263609866674176?s=20

Mandal also appealed to Twitterati to trend the hashtag #JaiPeriyarJaiBhim on social media.

https://twitter.com/dilipmandal/status/1196364628948852736?s=20

Krishnan, on the other hand, wrote: “Ramdev says anti caste, anti patriarchy, working class liberators Periyar, Ambedkar, Lenin are ‘intellectual terrorists’. Why? Because their social & political movements threaten caste, class, patriarchal oppression, exploitation!”

#रामदेव_ठग_है #ArrestRamdev
Ramdev says anti caste, anti patriarchy, working class liberators Periyar, Ambedkar, Lenin are "intellectual terrorists". Why? Because their social & political movements threaten caste, class, patriarchal oppression, exploitation!

— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) November 18, 2019

Even as calls for the boycott of Patanjali products is being made on social media, another video was widely shared Monday where Ramdev can be heard saying: “If Periyar was alive, I would have beaten him up with shoes, but I was not present at that time.”

Ramdev’s statement was also condemned by anti-caste organisations such as the Bhim Army, All India Ambedkar Mahasabha and All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation among others.

पेरियार पाखंड के खिलाफ थे,उनसे रामदेव जैसे 'ठग' को ठेस पहुंचनी लाजिमी है। क्योकि जिसका काम ही लोगो को धर्म के नाम पर ठगना हो वह तो यही चाहेगा कि पेरियार के तर्क जनता के सामने न आऐ, क्योकि अगर ऐसा हुआ तो इन ठगो की दुकान बंद हो जाएगी, लेकिन 'ठग' सुन ले ऐसा होना तय है#ArrestRamdev

— Chandra Shekhar Aazad (@BhimArmyChief) November 17, 2019

ThePrint tried to reach out to Patanjali for its comments on the controversy but did not get any response. Ramdev, on the other hand, posted a statement on his Twitter handle Sunday clarifying the term “intellectual terrorism”.

He posted: “We believe that every Indian is the original citizen of the country, our ancestors were great. But some people term Indians as invaders…this destructive mentality is what we called intellectual terrorism.”

हमसब भारतवासियों को भारत का मूलनिवासी एवं सबको समान सबको महान मानते हैं,अपने महान पूर्वजों को आदर्श मानते हैं,
लेकिन कुछलोग भारतीयों कोही विदेशी कहकर व अपने महान पूर्वजों पर झूठे आरोप लगाकर उनको जूते मारते हैं यही डिस्ट्रक्टिव सोच वैचारिक आतंकवाद है,
एकभारत जातिमुक्त भारत बनाएं! pic.twitter.com/vKO7uhCXku

— स्वामी रामदेव (@yogrishiramdev) November 17, 2019

His supporters, in the meanwhile, also started trending hashtags such as #IsupportRamdev and #Salute_ramdev_baba on social media.

Not his first

This isn’t the first time that Ramdev’s comment has stirred a controversy.

In a video from Maharashtra on 19 October, the yoga guru was heard saying “atheists like Periyar and Ramasamy’s supporters are increasing in numbers and spreading intellectual terrorism”.

In 2014 again, the Patanjali founder had come under fire for his statement accusing former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi of visiting homes of Dalits for “honeymoon and picnic”. Dalit activists had then staged massive protests condemning his statement following which an FIR was also lodged against Ramdev. He later issued an apology.