TV guru floored

Swami Ramdev has come under a cloud of controversy with Brinda Karat alleging that his medicines contained human bone powder.

Swami Ramdev, whose popular yoga classes are beamed to lakhs of Indian homes daily, has come under a cloud of controversy with CPM leader Brinda Karat alleging that ayurvedic medicines manufactured at his Hardwar-based pharmacy contained human bone powder and animal parts. Ramdev has denied the allegations.

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Citing a Health Ministry laboratory report on two medicines used for treating epilepsy and impotency, Karat said on Tuesday, "The impotency drug contains testicles of animals, crushed to powder. Bone and skull powder was also detected."

A Health Ministry spokesperson said a complaint had been received that all the ingredients of the two medicines — sent by Karat — were not mentioned on the labels. "Tests have been done and the report has been made available to the Uttaranchal government," he said.

Ramdev's Divya Yogi pharmacy at Kankhal in Haridwar manufactures over 160 types of medicines including syrups, tablets, powders and metallic preparations. The medicines, he claims, can cure diseases ranging from acidity to impotency and even control cancer in initial stages.

Six months ago, Karat had collected two medicine samples from the pharmacy and sent them to the Health Ministry for testing. The samples were then forwarded to three laboratories affiliated to the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha.