Maha govt likely to tie up with Ramdev to sell forest products

The Maharashtra government is mulling to tie up with Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, and sell off the excessive products derived from materials available in forests to Patanjali. This is likely to be done in a bid to further expand the market of goods sold through the 'Van Dhan Jan Dhan' scheme. The move has not gone down well with the opposition Congress, which claimed that products derived from forests are a national asset and that an intention to sell them to Ramdev is an indication that the government is returning Ramdev's "pre-election favours".

"We want to increase production for our 'Van Dhan Jan Dhan' scheme. A part of the goods is already being sold through retail shops. But, we do not want to let go of the chance to sell excessive products in a bulk quantity.

Thus, the intention to sell them as raw products to Baba Ramdev. He has given us a buy back quantity which nobody else does," Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar told PTI. "For instance honey and certain medicines derived exclusively from certain trees can be sold to Baba Ramdev since these products can be manufactured on a large scale there is no market for it," he added.

Mungantiwar said he will hold a meet with Ramdev tomorrow and discuss future tie-up possibilities in the regard. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant alleged that if Ramdev is brought into the picture, tribals will be exploited to benefit people who helped Prime Minister Narendra Modi come to power (at the Centre). "Modi government had to help Ramdev after it came to power.