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Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Rooh Afza vs Patanjali's Gulab Sharbat: Food Pharmer reveals truth behind summer drink that is '99% sugar'
The controversy around Rooh Afza and Patanjali's Gulab Sharbat has been simmering for a while, particularly after Baba Ramdev labelled Rooh Afza as the "sharbad jihad." However, if you're a fan of these drinks, you may want to think twice before reaching for that glass. Revant Himatsingka, also known as Food Pharmer, recently took to Instagram to share a post titled "Patanjali and Rooh Afza EXPOSED," where he dissected the ingredients of these drinks, raising serious concerns about their potential health risks. (Also read: Ambanis, Sachin Tendulkar's health coach reveals why bread is 'gutter' for your gut: 'Most dangerous thing you can eat' ) He begins the video by pointing out that Patanjali's Rooh Afza bottle doesn't even mention how much sugar it contains, although their website states that it contains 99% sugar. He also highlights how the bottle labels it as an "Ayurvedic Proprietary Medicine," and sarcastically comments, "In Ayurvedic times, was there something called sodium benzoate?", a preservative listed among the ingredients. What shocked him most was that Patanjali recommended consuming this 99% sugar drink twice a day. A post shared by Revant Himatsingka (@foodpharmer) Turning to its competitor, Rooh Afza, he says it contains 87% sugar (clearly mentioned on the bottle) along with several preservatives. He also flags that it includes an artificial red colour that is banned in countries like Norway and Austria and comes with a warning: "May cause attention and activity issues in children." Revant concludes by saying that while these drinks might taste good, they're definitely not good for your health. The controversy surrounding Rooh Afza intensified after Yoga guru Ramdev made disparaging remarks, alleging that profits from the drink were used to fund religious institutions, coining the term "sharbat jihad." These statements led Hamdard Laboratories, the manufacturer of Rooh Afza, to file a lawsuit against Ramdev and Patanjali Foods Ltd. The Delhi High Court deemed Ramdev's comments as "indefensible" and a violation of its earlier directives, warning of contempt proceedings.
NDTV
02-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Baba Ramdev: The 'Yoga Guru' And His Business Empire
Ramdev described himself as a 'scientist' in a 2015 interview with NDTV; he called himself a 'scientist Baba' and said, "You can talk to me about botany... medical science..." Meet Baba Ramdev - 'yoga guru', entrepreneur, and, over the past few years - a regular in courtrooms across India, courtesy patently misleading ads, unsubstantiated remarks about his Patanjali products' ability to 'cure' diseases such as COVID, and sexist remarks about women. The most recent court case involving the 60-year-old was May 1 - Labour Day - when his counsel was hauled up by the Delhi High Court for Ramdev blatantly violating its gag order in the 'Rooh Afza' case. Advertisement - Scroll to continue Baba Ramdev "lives in his own world" was Justice Amit Bansal's withering response. Many might agree with the Delhi High Court's observation, particularly since Ramdev seems to flout, judging by the cases against him, laws and violate ethical boundaries regularly. For example, the Delhi court's comment came after Ramdev this month promoted his herbal drink by speaking disparagingly - his remarks flagged by many as communal - about its primary competitor, Rooh Afza, a popular herbal drink made by Hamdard Laboratories (India). A 'sherbet jihad' controversy sprang up and Ramdev was warned to take down all related promo content, including advertisements and social media posts. Many were, but that did not stop Ramdev from a repeat of the 'sherbet jihad' rant. He then earned himself a contempt of court notice from the Delhi High Court. His critics believe much of the impunity with which he operates his mammoth multinational FMCG empire - which sells everything from cookies and shampoos to Ayurvedic concoctions and food grains - is because of a 'hotline' to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP. Such links, though, have never been acknowledged by the ruling party. Ramdev himself believes he is a 'scientist'; in a 2015 interview with NDTV he called himself a 'scientist Baba'. "I was born in a farmer's house... and the work that we have done, we have connected yoga with science. You can talk to me about botany... medical science," he said. READ | 'I Am a Scientist Baba', Yoga Guru Ramdev Tells NDTV He then also swatted away talk of more of his contentious claims, including claiming he could 'cure' homosexuality and that his concoctions can 'guarantee' the birth of a male child. Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved Patanjali Ayurved, Ramdev's holding company, was founded in 2006. Based in Haridwar, in Uttarakhand, it recorded Rs 9,335 crore in revenue in FY24 and a profit of Rs 2,901 crore. The total income for FY23 was Rs 7,580 crore. For a company set up only 17 years earlier, in a space dominated by global heavyweights like Hindustan Unilever, Dabur, Nestle, Colgate-Palmolive, ITC, and Godrej, among others, these are impressive figures. And that includes the period of the pandemic, when it continued to grow. Alongside that growth are a long line of controversial statements, which has led to over 100 cases filed against him and/or his company; these cases include alleged labour law violations, selling substandard packaged food, and misbranding products as 'vegetarian only'. 'Toxic' Drugs And Covid 'Cure' Among the biggest of those controversies was from 2021 and 2022, when the COVID pandemic was killing millions and governments worldwide were urging people to vaccinate themselves. Then Ramdev claimed "lakhs died in India due to allopathic medicines" and called them "stupid and bankrupt", insisting they were 'designed' by foreign pharma firms to get Indians addicted. This was months before he launched 'Coronil', an "evidence-based ayurvedic medicine" that could 'cure' COVID and, remarkably, had a 'certification' from the World Health Organization. Baba Ramdev at the launch of 'Coronil' (File). Only, it did not. The WHO promptly said it had not certified 'Coronil', forcing company execs who echoed Ramdev's claims to delete tweets and the opposition to lament being embarrassed. It then emerged the government had tagged 'Coronil' as an 'immunity booster only. The row that should have ended there did not. In August 2022 his comments about allopathy reached the Supreme Court; the Indian Medical Association had taken exception to his 'toxic drugs' and 'stupid' comment and filed a case. Those comments included claims Patanjali could cure diseases like diabetes. The then-Chief Justice NV Ramana told Ramdev he was free to promote Ayurveda, but not at the cost of criticising allopathy. That, incidentally, was a week after the Delhi High Court told him to refrain from making such statements. Unsurprisingly, in the intervening days he did just that. Baba Ramdev endorsing a range of his products (File). This case dragged on for a couple of years, in which time the government was also pulled up. In 2023 Ramdev, a day after he was told, again, not to make false statements, did just that, declaring he had a "database... of preclinical and clinical evidence", and lashed out "some stubborn and so-called frustrated doctors... who oppose yoga, ayurveda, and naturopathy'. Then Ramdev and Balkrishna were told to apologise and stop running false ads, including those unfairly criticising allopathy and allopathic doctors. But they did neither. READ | 'Absolute Defiance': Court Rebukes Patanjali, Centre In Fake Ads Row The initial apology was slammed by the court as " indefensible" and "humbug", and the government and Patanjali were fiercely reprimanded for allowing the ads to continue. Eventually Ramdev submitted a proper apology, at least one the court accepted. The Toothpaste Row First there was 'Coronil', then 'Divya Dant Manjan', Patanjali's herbal tooth powder. In August 2024 a petition in the Delhi High Court said the packaging featured a green dot - used to signify vegetarian products - but the list of ingredients included cuttlefish bone derivates. It was also claimed Ramdev had admitted as such in a YouTube video. The brand reportedly posted sales of Rs 425 crore in 2016. Current figures are not available but, for context, in that year Colgate India posted revenue of Rs 982 crore. Ramdev hasn't responded to this case so far, but the product remains in the market. The Male Child 'Guarantee' We rewind a little now, to January 2015, when a remedy for infertility was allegedly sold as a 'guarantee' for the birth of a male child, problematic in a misogynistic and patriarchal society. ' Divya Putrajeevak Seed ', sold in Patanjali Pharmacies, a chain of shops owned by Ramdev, is described in catalogues as a natural herb for treatment of infertility. It does not promise a male child but the name is misleading, said doctors who pointed out 'Putrajeevak' means 'son's life'. The concoction reportedly sold well in Haryana, which has among the worst sex ratios in India and where Prime Minister Modi, a week earlier, launched a campaign to save the girl child. The Defence Ramdev and his lawyers have repeatedly argued that his comments, and the company's ads, reflect information from 'clinical evidence' of the crores who use Patanjali products. They have also argued, as in the 'sherbet jihad' case, that Baba Ramdev cannot be stopped from expressing his personal opinions on healthcare, medicine, or anything else. It was pointed out, as in the Rooh Afza case, that Ramdev had never mentioned any specific brand. The Delhi High Court was unimpressed. "He can hold these opinions in his head; need not express them," Justice Bansal responded. NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. 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India.com
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Delhi High Court criticises yoga guru Ramdev for repeated derogatory videos despite ban
Yoga Guru Ramdev faces criticism from Delhi High Court over fresh remarks New Delhi: Yoga guru Ramdev is once again under fire from the Delhi High Court, this time for releasing a fresh video making derogatory claims about the popular herbal drink Rooh Afza. The court had previously ordered him not to make such statements, but his latest actions suggest otherwise. Justice Amit Bansal, who is hearing the case, didn't mince his words. He said Ramdev 'lives in his own world' and appears to be 'not in control of anyone,' pointing to his repeated disregard for the court's orders. What the Court Had Said Earlier The controversy began when Ramdev alleged that profits from Rooh Afza sales were being used to fund mosques and madrasas, claims the Delhi High Court strongly condemned. Calling those remarks 'indefensible,' the court had issued a clear order barring him from making any public statements, advertisements, or videos targeting Hamdard National Foundation India or its best-known product, Rooh Afza. Yet Another Video, More Trouble Despite those warnings, Ramdev went ahead and posted a new video repeating the same accusations. The court took serious note of this defiance, with Justice Bansal openly expressing frustration over his refusal to comply with legal boundaries. Ramdev's continued noncompliance may now lead to contempt of court proceedings, a serious charge that could carry legal consequences. The Product at the Heart of the Row Rooh Afza isn't just any drink, it's a household name in India, especially during the summer and Ramadan. Made by Hamdard Laboratories, it has been around for generations, known for its refreshing taste and herbal ingredients.
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Patanjali: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev to delete controversial adverts
Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev has told a Delhi court that he will take down adverts in which he made controversial remarks about a rival firm's drink, criticised by a judge as "indefensible".Ramdev alleged that some brands used their profits to build mosques and madrassas in a video promoting a sweet drink made by his company did not name the brand, but it was widely seen to be a reference to Rooh Afza, a popular drink made for more than a century by Hamdard Laboratories, an Islamic charitable video went viral, sparking outrage. Hamdard also filed a case, asking for the advertisements to be removed. Rooh Afza is a non-alcoholic sweet drink in syrup form which is popular in South Asian countries, including India and Pakistan, and is usually referred to as sherbet. The syrup, introduced in 1906 by Hamdard, is usually mixed with milk or water and is very popular among Muslims breaking their fast during the month of the video, Ramdev also used the phrase "sherbet jihad" – a play on terms like "love jihad", used by radical Hindu groups to accuse Muslim men of converting Hindu women by marriage. In this case, it is appears to be suggesting Muslims are profiting from money spent by Tuesday, a judge in the Delhi high court criticised Ramdev's remarks, calling them "indefensible"."It shocks the conscience of the court," Justice Amit Bansal said, according to legal website court also asked Ramdev to file an affidavit within five days, saying that he would not issue any such statements, advertisements, or social media posts in the future. The next hearing is on 1 lawyer Mukul Rohatgi said that the case went beyond criticism of a product and represented a "communal divide". He also called Ramdev's comments "hate speech".Rajiv Nayar, who represented Ramdev and Patanjali, said that his client was not against any religion and that the advertisements would be removed. Ramdev shot to fame in the early 2000s with his televised yoga classes. He soon amassed a huge following and was praised for guiding people towards a healthy 2006, along with his close aide Acharya Balkrishna, Ramdev launched Patanjali Ayurveda to sell herbal medicines. The company now sells a range of products from flour and soaps to toothpastes and instant is not the first time the guru has come under fire from the courts. Last year, the Indian Supreme Court ordered him to apologise for falsely claiming that his company's products could "cure" serious illnesses. The court also banned the ads, saying the yoga guru was spreading misinformation and misleading consumers with his remarks about modern BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook.
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
After Delhi HC's outburst, Ramdev says he will take down ‘sharbat jihad' videos
NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Tuesday sharply criticised yoga guru and entrepreneur Ramdev's attacks on Hamdard's popular drink Rooh Afza, saying his remarks were indefensible and had shocked the court's conscience. According to a suit filed by Hamdard Laboratories, Ramdev in a video to promote Patanjali's products on April 3 claimed that the pharmaceutical and food company was using its money for building masjids and madrasas and referred to the drink as part of a so-called 'sharbat jihad'. 'It shocks the conscience of the court. It's indefensible according to me. Please take instructions, otherwise there will be a strong order. I couldn't believe my ears and eyes when I saw this,' justice Amit Bansal told senior advocate Rajiv Nayyar who appeared for Ramdev. After the court's sharp comments, Nayyar assured the high court to immediately take down video, social media posts and advertisements in print and video format related to his 'sharbat jihad' comments. Justice Bansal took note of the assurance and directed Ramdev to file an affidavit undertaking not to issue such statements or advertisement in future. The affidavit is to be filed within five days and will be taken up on May 1, the next date of hearing. 'Let an affidavit be also placed on record by defendant number 2 (Ramdev) stating that he undertakes (he) shall not issue any such statements or advertisement in the future. Let the affidavit be filed within five days,' the order said. In its suit filed against Patanjali and Baba Ramdev, Hamdard Laboratories complained that Ramdev's comments amounted to hate speech and had a communal overtone. Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Sandeep Sethi, who appeared for Hamdard, submitted that the comment was attacking the religion of the company owners, and was intended to create communal divide. It was pointed out that Ramdev's video already had 53 million views. 'This is a case which is shocking, which goes beyond disparagement. This is a case of creating communal divide, akin to hate speech. It will not have protection from the law of defamation. Jihad means war in the name of religion, so you are attacking my religion since Hamdard belongs to people of the Muslim community and they have been in Delhi since 1906,' Rohatgi submitted. On April 15, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh filed a complaint with the Bhopal police to seek registration of a first information report (FIR) against Ramdev for allegedly spreading religious hatred. Singh alleged the video was designed to stir religious sentiments and boost sales for Patanjali Ayurved products. On April 18, Ramdev defended his remarks, claiming that he had not named any specific brand or community. 'I haven't taken anybody's name, but the Rooh Afza people thought the 'sharbat jihad' comment was aimed at them… This means they are doing this 'jihad',' Ramdev said.
