Ramdev assures Delhi HC of not posting offensive content against Hamdard

New Delhi: Yoga guru Ramdev on Friday gave an undertaking in the Delhi High Court for neither issuing any disparaging statement nor publishing on social media, posts similar to his "sharbat jihad" remark against Hamdard's Rooh Afza. Justice Amit Bansal, who on May 1 ordered removal of the controversial online content, asked Ramdev's counsel to file an affidavit during the day. A similar undertaking was also tendered by Ramdev's Patanjali Foods Ltd. The court passed the order while dealing with a lawsuit by Hamdard National Foundation India against Ramdev and his Patanjali Foods Ltd over the controversial remarks. Hamdard claimed while promoting Patanjali's "gulab sharbat", Ramdev alleged the money earned from Hamdard's Rooh Afza was used to build madrasas and mosques.

On April 22, the court sought an affidavit from Ramdev and Patanjali that they shall "not issue any statements, social media posts or disparaging videos/advertisements in future similar to those which are subject matter of the present suit in respect of products of the competitors." Ramdev's remark of "sharbat jihad" on Hamdard's Rooh Afza, the court said, was indefensible and shook its conscience, prompting the Yoga guru to assure he would immediately take down the related videos and social media posts. On Friday, Hamdard's counsel said instead of taking down the objectionable YouTube video in terms of an earlier order, the defendant had only made it private. Ramdev's counsel, on the other hand, said he had "great respect for the court" and its directions would be complied with. "We have 24 hours, we will comply," he said while urging the court to dispose of the lawsuit. The court then posted the matter on May 9. On May 1, after the court warned of initiating contempt action against Ramdev, his lawyer assured that certain objectionable content which was subsequently published would also be deleted within 24 hours.