New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday criticised Yoga instructor Ramdev for his “sharbat jihad” comment targeting Hamdard’s Rooh Afza, describing the statement as “shocking” and “indefensible.”
Justice Amit Bansal, while hearing a petition filed by Hamdard National Foundation against Patanjali Foods Ltd, said, “This shocks the conscience of the court. It is indefensible. Take instructions from your client, or the court will pass a strong order.”
In a viral video, shared less than two weeks ago, Ramdev uses the term “sharbat jihad” while promoting Patanjali’s rose sharbat. In the video, he claims that a rival company—reportedly referring to Hamdard’s Rooh Afza—uses its profits to build mosques and madrasas. He contrasts this by saying that Patanjali’s earnings fund gurukuls, Acharyakulam, Patanjali University, and the Bharatiya Shiksha Board.
The video was posted on the official ‘Patanjali Products’ Facebook page with a caption urging people to “protect their families” from soft drinks and “sharbat jihad,” even likening cold drinks to toilet cleaners.
Hamdard’s counsel informed the court that the remarks were not just disparaging but also communal. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Hamdard, said, “This amounts to hate speech. He says it is a sharbat jihad. He should carry on with his business. Why is he troubling us?”
Although Ramdev later claimed he did not mention any brand or community by name, the court took serious note of the language used.
As Ramdev’s counsel was unavailable during the hearing, the matter will be taken up again later.
