'Black Day' today: Doctors call for protest against Baba Ramdev’s allopathy, vaccine remarks

In a release issued by a doctors' association said that June 1 will be observed as 'Black Day'.

The Federation of resident doctors' association (FORDA) has given a call for nationwide protest against the remarks made by yoga guru Baba Ramdev. As per a release issued by a doctors' association, June 1 will be observed as 'Black Day'.

In a fresh remark, yoga guru Baba Ramdev has once again questioned the legitimacy of COVID-19 vaccines, claiming that he hasn’t taken a jab as he enjoys the dual cover of yoga and Ayurveda. Ramdev further claimed that the fatalities caused by the pandemic showed that allopathy was not 100 percent effective.

Ramdev said, "For decades, I have been practising yoga and Ayurveda, so I didn’t feel the need to get vaccinated. Over 100 crore people of India as well as in foreign countries have access to these ancient therapies. In the times to come, Ayurveda will be globally accepted."

FORDA, in a statement, said that the call had been given to condemn the “derogatory and distasteful statements” made by Baba Ramdev. Forda assured that patient care would not be hampered by the day-long protest.

The India Medical Association (IMA) strongly objected to Ramdev's statement, made last week, and demanded action against him.

The IMA in a 14-page complaint sent to the Centre said "It is stated that the accused being a businessman, in order to take advantage of the present situation and his large public following, is wilfully and deliberately advancing dishonest representations… about allopathy and modern medicine… and to swindle them into parting with their monies by taking Swami Ramdev’s unapproved and dubious drugs".

After Baba Ramdev had called allopathy a “stupid science” in an interview, the war of words started. IMA criticised the yoga guru and asked for an unconditional apology, which Ramdev had to furnish on May 30 after having been cautioned.

The association said in its statement, "IMA brings to the notice of our Health Minister, a video circulating in social media portraying, the celebrated Yoga Guruji saying that 'modern allopathy ek aisi stupid aur diwaliya science hai' (modern allopathy is a stupid and failed science)."

IMA asked PM Narendra Modi to take strict actions against Ramdev for spreading misinformation about vaccines due to which ASHA workers tasked with immunizing people have been attacked by people who have fallen for his claims, reported PTI.