New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government is “happy” that yoga guru Ramdev is “doing something for the country” by carrying out research to provide cure for Covid-19, Ayush Minister Shripad Naik said Wednesday.
The minister’s comments came a day after his ministry directed Ramdev’s FMCG company, Patanjali, to stop advertising Coronil, an ayurvedic medicine that was launched Tuesday as a “cure” for Covid.
“Patanjali carried out the research for the welfare of the country and everyone should be happy about the development,” the minister told ThePrint, adding that the company should, however, have followed all protocols.
The Union minister of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush) further said Patanjali’s “intent was not wrong” as it only tried to help the country by carrying out research to come up with a cure for Covid.
“Their intent is not wrong. Though they made a mistake by not following protocols and they have accepted it, too,” he said.
On Tuesday, Ramdev launched the medicine, claiming it could treat Covid within 14 days. Coronil, according to Patanjali, is manufactured using active compounds of Ashwagandha, Giloy and Tulsi.
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‘We are happy’
Ayush Minister Naik told ThePrint, “We are very happy that they are doing something for the country by carrying out research on providing cures for coronavirus. But they should have sent it to us for permission.”
The minister said Patanjali was asked to stop advertising and seek proper clearance after the issue was brought to the ministry’s notice.
“They have accepted their mistake and have sent us all the required documents related to the medicines. Our task force will now scrutinise it and within a few days we will be able to decide on the matter,” he added.
Soon after Coronil’s launch, the Ayush Ministry — the regulator for ayurvedic drugs in India — shot off a letter to the company asking it to furnish composition and research data while also directing it to not advertise it as a Covid drug.
Experts have said that it is difficult to comment on the efficacy of Coronil, citing low sample size and the absence of any published study, among other factors.
In March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recommended that the ministry should work towards scientific evidence-based solutions from the Ayush system to keep a check on the spread of the pandemic. The Ayush ministry received over 2,000 proposals within less than 15 days of his appeal.
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