14 Patanjali Products Banned, Criminal Complaints Filed against Ramdev, Balkrishna, Patanjali
NEW DELHI, Apr 29: A criminal complaint has also been filed against Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, Patanjali Ayurved company managing director Acharya Balkrishna and Patanjali Ayurved for violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act.
The Uttarakhand government has also suspended the licenses of 14 products of Patanjali manufactured by Patanjali’s Divya Pharmacy in connection with the misleading advertisements case, the government licensing body informed the Supreme Court in an affidavit filed on Monday.
The banned products include Divya Pharmacy’s Drishti Eye drop, Swasari Gold, Swasari Vati, Bronchom, Swasari Pravahi, Swasari Avaleh, Mukta Vati Extra Power, Lipidom, Bp Grit, Madhugrit, Madhunashini Vati Extra Power, Livamrit Advance, Livogrit and Eyegrit Gold.
Meanwhile, Indian Medical Association president (IMA) Dr R V Asokan said Baba Ramdev crossed a red line when he claimed he could cure COVID-19 and at the same time maligned modern medicine by calling it a “stupid and bankrupt science.”
This was IMA’s first comment since the Supreme Court lashed out at the Yoga guru and his associates over misleading advertisements. The next hearing of the matter to look into the public apologies filed by the trio is scheduled before the top court on Tuesday.
The apex court is hearing IMA’s 2022 plea alleging a smear campaign against the COVID vaccination drive and modern systems of medicine. Dr Asokan said it was “unfortunate” that the Supreme Court criticised IMA and also the practices of private doctors. The “vague and generalised statements” have demoralised private doctors, he said.
“We sincerely believe they need to look at what was the material before them. They perhaps did not consider that this was not the issue that was before them in the court.” “You can say anything but still a majority of doctors are conscientious… practicing according to ethics and principles. It does not behove the Supreme Court to take a broadside against the medical profession of the country which after all sacrificed so many lives for the Covid war,” he added.
Dr Asokan was replying to a query about the Supreme Court’s observations in its hearing on April 23 that when it was pointing one finger at Patanjali, the remaining four fingers were pointed towards IMA. Dr Asokan said Baba Ramdev went against the medical profession by saying “modern medicine is a stupid and bankrupt science.”
(Manas Dasgupta)
