New Delhi: A day after Yoga Guru Ramdev raked up a row by giving controversial remarks on allopathic medicines, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan asked the latter to take back his statements.
In a letter addressed to Ramdev, Dr. Vardhan asked him to take back his recent statements on allopathic medicines and modern medicine, saying that his statements have hurt the sentiments of the doctors who are fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The countrymen and doctors are deeply hurt by your statements on allopathic medicines. I have already conveyed this sentiment to you on the phone. Doctors and other health workers are fighting day and night against the deadly virus and we should appreciate them for this. By such statements, you have not only disrespected the Covid warriors but have also deeply hurt the feelings of the countrymen," Vardhan said in his letter.
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"The explanation you issued yesterday is inadequate to heal people's hurt feelings. It is very unfortunate for you to say that millions of Covid patients died due to consuming allopathic medicine. We must not forget that this fight against the pandemic can be won only by collective efforts," the letter read.
"Baba Ramdev Ji, you are one of the towering personalities in India. So any statement of yours matters a lot. In such a gloomy situation, your statement on allopathy can break the morale of healthcare workers, weaken our fight against Covid," he added.
Vardhan's statement came after Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev downplayed the efficacy of modern medicine.
Ramdev said that "allopathy ek aisi stupid aur diwalilya science hai (allopathy is such a stupid science)".
He also said that "lakhs of people have died after taking allopathic medicines." Ramdev claimed Remdesivir, Faviflu, and other key drugs used in the treatment of COVID-19 have failed in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Remdesivir and Faviflu were cleared for use by India's Drug Controller General.
The Indian Medical Association had urged the Union health ministry to take action against the Yoga Guru, saying he "misled people by making 'unlearned' statements against allopathy and defamed scientific medicine.
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