Protests and FIRs against yoga instructor of Patanjali Yogpeeth, Satinath Baral, and yoga guru Baba Ramdev continued across the state on Tuesday as organisations called for a public apology from Ramdev and exemplary punishment for Baral for alleged derogatory remarks against Vaishnavite saint and scholar Srimanta Xankardeb.
Baral, associated with Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth, had allegedly said Xankardeb was not a great scholar, that his kirtan ghoxa is not an important book and has no value, and other remarks against Assamese social and cultural life.
The Asom Sattra Mahasabha on Tuesday refused to accept the apology tendered by Baba Ramdev on television and demanded that he come to Assam and publicly apologise to the people of Assam as their sentiments have been hurt by the derogatory remarks against Xankardeb, naam ghoxa and Assamese social life by Baral. The organisation organised protests in Majuli, the seat of Vaishnavite culture, and Charaideo district.
The Mahasabha had on Monday filed an FIR against Baral at Dispur police station, demanding his “immediate arrest and exemplary punishment”.
Tuesday also saw Barpeta Sankardev Sangha on Tuesday file an FIR at Barpeta sadar police station, demanding Baral’s arrest for his “derogatory remarks” against Xankardeb.
On Monday, a public meeting was held at Barpeta Xatra where all bhaktas were present. The meeting discussed Baral’s derogatory remarks and a resolution was taken to boycott Patanjali products and not to allow any meeting or event in Barpeta in connection with Ramdev or Patanjali.
On Monday, Ramdev tried to placate the Assamese people by tendering an apology on television and stating that Baral was “the agent of conspirators and had infiltrated Patanjali to cause damage to its reputation”.
Ramdev also displayed a letter ordering the dismissal of Baral from Patanjali. “We consider Srimanta Sankardevji Maharaj as one of the great spiritual leaders of the country. His contribution to the religious and cultural life of the country is respected by us. We have a list of religious and spiritual icons starting from lord Ram to Swami Vivekananda. Guru Sankardev’s name is included in that list which is displayed at all our yogpeeths,” Ramdev told a TV channel on Monday.
