Under-fire Ramdev regrets remarks on Rahul visiting Dalit homes

In the eye of a row over his comment that Rahul Gandhi visits Dalit homes for "honeymoon and picnic", yoga guru Ramdev today expressed regret to the dalit community but claimed his remarks were "misrepresented".

Ramdev, however, insisted the Congress vice president visited homes of the poor for "publicity stunt, picnic or tourism". "The statement I made has been misrepresented. The term honeymoon period is over is commonly used in political language. I tried to use it in that sense," Ramdev claimedd. "I had no intention to insult honourable Rahul Gandhi or Dalit community. But this is also true that Rahul Gandhi goes to houses of poor and uses that opportunity as publicity stunt, picnic or tourism," he said, adding "I express regret if the use of that term has hurt the feelings of any community, especially Dalit community."

Ramdev was here to attend a yoga Camp organised by his Bharat Swabhiman Trust. The yoga teacher, who has been openly targeting Congress and backing BJP's prime ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi, has been booked by Uttar Pradesh police for his remarks against Rahul Gandhi made in Lucknow yesterday.

Ramdev had said Rahul Gandhi visited Dalit homes "for honeymoon and picnic". "He goes to Dalits' house for honeymoon and picnic. Had he married a dalit girl, then his luck could have clicked and he would have become the Prime Minister," Ramdev had said.