Lucknow administration bans Baba Ramdev from holding public meets

Taking view of his comment that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi went to the houses of Dalits for a 'honeymoon and for picnics', the Lucknow administration on Sunday banned Yoga guru Baba Ramdev from holding any public meeting in the district.

On Friday, at a programme Baba Ramdev had said, "He goes to Dalits houses for a honeymoon and for picnics. Had he married a Dalit girl, then his luck could have clicked and he would have become the Prime Minister."

A first information report (FIR) was filed against Ramdev in connection to his comment on Rahul Gandhi. He said unlike Rahul, Narendra Modi and Ramdev had not become "fakirs" (single) under compulsion.

Baba Ramdev later apologised for his comments and it was taken in a wrong context by the people. He also said that he was willing to withdraw the comments if they have hurt Dalit sentiments. He also rejected allegations by the Congress that his yoga camps are being used for political gain. He said that he had as much of a right as anyone else to air his views.