A video featuring yoga guru Baba Ramdev has ignited a fresh controversy, rapidly going viral and drawing sharp criticism for his communal remarks while promoting Patanjali’s rose sharbat. In the contentious video, Ramdev alleges that profits from a rival sharbat brand are being used to fund the construction of mosques and madrasas, a claim he has termed “sharbat jihad,” drawing parallels to the contentious terms “love jihad” and “vote jihad.” His statements have been widely interpreted as a veiled attack on Hamdard’s iconic Rooh Afza, sparking outrage and accusations of promoting religious polarization for commercial gain.
In the now-viral video, shared on the official Facebook page of Patanjali Products with a Hindi caption urging consumers to protect their families from “the poison of toilet cleaner being sold in the name of soft drinks and ‘sharbat jihad’,” Baba Ramdev is seen vehemently criticizing regular soft drinks, branding them as akin to “toilet cleaners.” He then pivots to the alleged “sharbat jihad,” stating that a particular sharbat company uses its earnings to build mosques and madrasas. While he refrained from explicitly naming the brand, the insinuation towards Rooh Afza, a popular and long-standing sharbat, was palpable to viewers and social media users.
Countering the alleged “sharbat jihad,” Baba Ramdev urged consumers to choose Patanjali’s rose sharbat instead. He claimed that the profits from Patanjali’s products would contribute to the development of Hindu educational institutions such as gurukuls, Acharyakulam, Patanjali University, and the Bharatiya Shiksha Board. This direct comparison, framing the choice of beverage as a contribution to either Muslim or Hindu institutions, has been slammed as a blatant attempt to communalize consumer choices for business advantage.
The reaction on social media platforms has been swift and largely critical. Many users have condemned Baba Ramdev’s remarks as divisive, disrespectful, and a dangerous tactic to promote his brand by stoking religious tensions. Comments have ranged from accusations of Islamophobia and using the “Hindu-Muslim card” to sell products, to pointing out the irony of using Arabic-origin words like “gulab” and “sharbat” while making such claims. Some users also questioned the accuracy of his claims, noting that Rooh Afza is associated with Hamdard, a company with a diverse ownership.
This is not the first time Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved have found themselves embroiled in controversy. The company has faced numerous legal challenges regarding misleading advertisements and unsubstantiated claims about the curative properties of its products, including alleged treatments for serious medical conditions. The Supreme Court of India has previously reprimanded Patanjali for such practices, further fueling skepticism towards Baba Ramdev’s latest assertions.
Critics argue that Baba Ramdev’s “sharbat jihad” remark represents a new low in marketing tactics, exploiting religious sentiments to create a sense of othering and promote Patanjali’s products as the “nationalist” and “religious” alternative. This approach has been deemed irresponsible and potentially harmful in a diverse and multi-religious society like India. The controversy raises serious questions about ethical advertising and the use of religious narratives to influence consumer behavior.
Key Highlights:
- Baba Ramdev’s “sharbat jihad” video, promoting Patanjali’s rose sharbat, has gone viral and drawn widespread criticism.
- In the video, he alleges that a rival sharbat company funds mosques and madrasas with its profits, urging consumers to choose Patanjali to support Hindu educational institutions.
- He also likened regular soft drinks to “toilet cleaners,” further polarizing his message.
- Social media users have condemned his remarks as communal, disrespectful, and a dangerous marketing tactic.
- This controversy adds to Patanjali’s history of facing criticism and legal challenges over its advertising practices.