Lucknow: In the wake of yoga guru Ramdev's 'honeymoon' remarks against Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, the Election Commission on Monday cancelled his Himachal Pradesh campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party. Ramdev was scheduled to campaign in Kangra, Chamba and Nurpur. The Amethi administration has also banned his programmes scheduled on May 1 and 2.
Earlier, he was banned by the EC on Sunday from holding rallies in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh over the remark. Ramdev is also facing arrest over his comment 'Rahul Gandhi visits Dalit homes for honeymoons and picnics'. An FIR has been lodged in Ahmedabad by a city-based NGO for "insulting" the Dalit community and demanded action against him under the SC/ST Act, police said on Sunday. "Last night, we lodged an FIR under 'zero' number against Ramdev and later forwarded it to Mahanagar police station in Lucknow," police inspector DH Desai said.
The FIR was lodged in the Gomtipur police station demanding action against Ramdev under the SC/ST Act (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act) for his comment "Rahul Gandhi visits Dalit homes for honeymoon and picnic".
While Ramdev is facing the brunt for his comments, it seems that it will also affect BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's mission UP as Dalits have upped the ante against him. Dalits in Raebareli said that though they were thinking about voting for the BJP in the 2014 election, Ramdev's statement has driven them to rethink their decision.
Meanhwile, the Congress has condemned the attack on Rahul and demanded an unconditional apology from Ramdev. Congress leader Kumari Selja said, "Modi uses Ramdev at his own convenience. Modi and Ramdev should apologise for the comment."
Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati has also threatened to launch a nationwide strike if Ramdev is not arrested. She said, "I request the Election Commission to take strict action against Baba Ramdev for his insensitive comments on Dalits. The Election Commission should ensure he is arrested for his statements."
The Election Commission had on Sunday issued fresh guidelines after Ramdev's comment. Without naming Ramdev, the commission said, "They should not indulge in any activities or make any statements that would amount to attack on personal life of any person or statements that may be malicious or offending decency and moralilty."
Ramdev had stirred a hornet's nest on Friday by saying, "Rahul doesn't wants to marry a 'desi' girl, however, he likes going to Dalits places for picnics and honeymoons."
"If the Congress vice president had married a girl from the particular community, not only the girl would have become rich, but Rahul would have become the PM," he said.
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