This Article is From Apr 26, 2014

Congress wants Ramdev to apologise for "honeymoon" comment on Rahul Gandhi

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev speaking at a programme in Lucknow on April 25

New Delhi: The Congress has strongly condemned yoga guru Baba Ramdev who said in Lucknow yesterday that the party's vice-president Rahul Gandhi visits homes of Dalits "for honeymoon and picnic." (Watch what he said here)

Terming the comment "anti-Dalit", Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh demanded today that the yoga guru must apologise. (Rahul goes to Dalit houses for honeymoon, picnic: Ramdev)

"Ramdev's remark Anti Dalit. He must publicly apologise. We would like Modi and BJP to react to Ramdev's anti Dalit remark.(sic), he tweeted.

Upset over Ramdev's remarks, some Dalit activists have also reportedly filed complaints with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Women.

Baba Ramdev, who has often declared that he supports BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, made the comments while he was in Lucknow. (Baba Ramdev joins 'Narendra Modi for PM' chorus)

"He (Rahul) goes to houses of Dalits for honeymoon and picnic," Ramdev said in Lucknow and added, "His mother told him that if he marries a foreigner, he won't become the PM.  He does not want to marry an Indian girl. His mother wants him to first become PM and then marry a foreigner."

Later, the yoga guru said he was willing to withdraw his comments if they hurt Dalit sentiments.

He also refuted Congress' allegations that he was campaigning for the BJP at his yoga camps.

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