Post Vardhan letter, Ramdev retracts anti-allopathy remarks

New Delhi, May 23

Yoga guru Ramdev on Sunday withdrew his controversial remarks against allopathic drugs after Health Minister Harsh Vardhan wrote to him on the issue.

“I respect all forms of medical science; allopathy has saved lives,” he said. Earlier, in a letter, Vardhan told Ramdev that his remarks about allopathic drugs and doctors could potentially weaken India’s fight against Covid.

Describing Ramdev’s clarification as inadequate, the minister said, “All you have said in your clarification is that you have nothing against modern medicine and doctors. This is not adequate. I hope you will seriously introspect and retract your unfortunate statements.”

Vardhan reacted a day after Indian Medical Association demanded that Ramdev be booked under the Epidemic Act, 1897, for terming anti-Covid 19 drugs as “useless” and claiming that lakhs died due to these drugs.

“Citizens are hurt by your statements on allopathic drugs and doctors. I have in the past also conveyed these feelings to you. For people fighting Covid, doctors are like gods. You have through your statements not just undermined frontline warriors, but also hurt the sentiments of people. Your clarification has not helped,” Vardhan said.

Referring to Ramdev’s remarks that lakhs of Covid patients had died after consuming allopathic medicines as unfortunate, Vardhan said, “Doctors, nurses and sanitation workers are putting their lives on the line to save others. Your remark that the allopathic system is a sham is unfortunate. Today if the case fatality rate in India is 1.13 per cent and recovery rate is 88 per cent, it is because of allopathic doctors,” he said. — TNS/PTI