Ramdev Issues Clarification Amid Row Over Viral Video: 'Said Owaisi, Not OBC'

Yoga guru Ramdev has issued a clarification over controversial remarks that he can be seen making in a viral video wherein he appears to be demeaning the backward community, saying that his jibe was directed at AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi and not the "OBC" (Other Backward Classes).

ALSO READ: 'Ending Family’s 55-Year Relationship': Senior Leader Milind Deora Quits Congress

Speaking to the media, Ramdev said that his words have been misheard and misconstrued. "I said 'Owaisi' and not 'OBC'. His (Owaisi's) predecessors were anti-nationals. I don't take him seriously," Ramdev was quoted as saying by news broadcaster NDTV. The clarification followed a social media outrage over the purported anti-OBC remarks and calls for the boycott of Patanjali, the company co-founded by Ramdev.

While the veracity of the video in question cannot be ascertained by Jagran English, Ramdev can be seen asserting his Brahmin identity and belittling the OBC community therein. Following the emergence of the video, many users took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and posted with #boyvottpatanjali as a mark of protest against Ramdev's purported insult of the OBC community.

ALSO READ: Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha': VHP’s Musical Light Show With 150 Cars In 'Ram' Formation Captivates People In US’ Maryland

He can also be seen listing the various Brahmin 'gotras' in the video, which was widely circulated on social media. "My original gotra is Brahma gotra. I am an Agnihotri Brahman. People say babaji is OBC [controversial part dacted] I am a Vedi Brahmin, Dwivedi Brahmin, Trivedi Brahmin, Chaturvedi Brahmin - I have read four Vedas."