M A I N   N E W S

Ramdev’s medicines have animal residue: Karat
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 3
CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat today once again accused yoga guru Swami Ramdev-owned Divya Yog Pharmacy of selling drugs containing animal residue, saying that the Union Health Ministry had confirmed that Ayurvedic medicines prepared by Baba Ramdev contained animal parts.

Producing a letter, which she said had been written to her by the Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry, Ms Karat told a press conference here that analysis reports of the samples prima facie reveal a violation of licensing and labelling provisions of the Indian Drugs and Cosmetics Act by the Uttaranchal-based Divya Yog Pharmacy.

“We came to know in June-July last year that herbal Ayurvedic medicines prepared by the pharmacy, owned by Ramdev, contained animal material and human bones. We then handed over medicine samples to the Department of AYUSH and now they had also confirmed our apprehensions, she said.

Stressing that a person using these medicines had every right to know what they contained, she said the products did not mention what they were made of. “ If a person is a vegetarian he must know what he is consuming in the name of medicine. Thousands of vegetarians would have had their beliefs violated. The people concerned deserve strictest punishment,” she told reporters here.

It may be mentioned that Baba Ramdev had vehemently denied charges leveled by Ms Karat, when she first raised them last year.

Accusing the spiritual leader of breech of trust, reposed in him by his followers, she said the medicines were being manufactured in violation of the licensing and labelling procedures of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Labour laws. “The Act requires proper display of the contents of the medicine on the label of the product,” she added.

She urged Uttaranchal Chief Minister N.D. Tiwari to take strict action against the yoga guru and others associated with the pharmacy, saying that the pharmacy was indulging in illegal acts when it used animal residue in its Ayurvedic medicines.

Coming down heavily on Mr Tiwari for reportedly visiting the pharmacy for inaugurating a new building there, she questioned that how could a massive adulterated medicine racket flourish in the state. “The state government has to come clean on the issue,” she said.

Ms Karat said even labour laws were being violated at the Hardwar manufacturing unit of the pharmacy.” Workers, including women, who work for more than 10 to 12 hours at the unit are denied all facilities. They are not paid well and when they agitate, they are fired,” she alleged.

She accused the renowned yoga guru of only being “interested in minting money at the cost of the workers,” saying that he owed millions of his followers, who buy the medicines, an explanation. “Using the popularity of TV channels, he is selling drugs which are adulterated,” she said.

Ms Karat had lodged a complaint with the Health Ministry and sent sealed samples of medicines on July 7 last year. “I had requested that the medicines be tested for animal residue and parts of human skull. Findings of most reputed laboratories have confirmed my apprehensions,” she said.

Ramdev ready to face probe

Lucknow, January 3
Yoga guru Swami Ramdev today demanded a high-level probe into allegations by CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat that his pharmacy, which produces ayurvedic medicines, was selling drugs containing animal residue and said there was a conspiracy by multinational companies against him.