Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, known for his strong advocacy of Ayurvedic medicine, has stirred controversy once again by accusing allopathic medicine of being responsible for the deaths of crores of people. Speaking to the media on the occasion of Independence Day on 15th August, he reiterated his belief in the superiority of indigenous Ayurvedic treatments over modern allopathic medicine. He stated, “The aspiration of dependence on only indigenous (Ayurvedic) medicine remains unfulfilled, as the toxic medications of allopathy cause millions of deaths annually. According to the history we have studied, the British killed over ten crore people to gain their dominance over the world.”

Ramdev didn't stop at criticizing modern medicine; he went further to draw parallels between the impact of allopathic medicine and the catastrophic events of history. He pointed out, “In a similar vein, millions of people have been slaughtered under the name of Islam and numerous fatalities and casualties were recorded during purported revolutions in the name of Lenin, Marx and Mao.” The spiritual leader emphasized that these historical tragedies have much in common with what he perceives as the lethal effects of allopathic treatments today. According to him, “toxic synthetic medications end the lives of crores of individuals every year.”

In his closing remarks, Ramdev expressed his commitment to intensifying efforts towards promoting Ayurvedic medicine as a means of achieving self-reliance in healthcare. He vowed to continue fighting for the recognition and adoption of what he describes as "autonomous and indigenous medicine," believing that this would safeguard lives and align with India's cultural heritage.

Notably, in a significant development, the Supreme Court on 13th August provided relief to Baba Ramdev by closing a contempt case against him and Patanjali Ayurveda MD Acharya Balkrishna, which stemmed from allegations of misleading advertisements. The case was brought forward by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which accused Baba Ramdev of leading a smear campaign against modern medicine and the COVID-19 vaccination program. The verdict was delivered by a bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, who considered the apologies offered by the involved parties and declared the matter closed.

The court stated, “We accept the apology tendered by the party. However, we expressly and strictly warn them that they will not do anything in violation of the court orders, as happened earlier in this case. We have come down heavily, and we warn you that this should not be done in the future.” The bench made it clear that any future actions similar to those that prompted the contempt proceedings would not be tolerated. They further emphasized the importance of honesty in legal proceedings, asserting, “The affidavits tendered before this court should be done with full truth.” With this, the court concluded the contempt proceedings against Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, stating, “We close the contempt proceedings initiated against the party with the warning of adhering to the orders passed by this court in this case. The notice issued to the present contemnor also stands discharge and closed.”

Despite the closure of this particular case, Baba Ramdev has found himself apologizing before the Supreme Court on multiple occasions for similar issues related to misleading advertisements and fearmongering against modern medicines. Although he has been repeatedly warned by the court, the Yoga guru, who has also ventured into the wellness business, has continued to make public statements against modern medicine in an effort to promote Ayurvedic products.