Asassuddin Owaisi responds to Baba Ramdev I File photo | Photo Credit: PTI

Hyderabad: AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) leader Asassuddin Owaisi came down heavily on Patanjali founder and Yoga guru Baba Ramdev after the latter said Ram is the ancestor of not just Hindus but Muslims too. Owaisi said Ramdev should keep his beliefs to himself and imposing them on others is wrong.

"RSS and Sangh Parivar make such statements every time. We are Muslims by choice, nobody forced our ancestors," he was quoted by the news agency ANI as saying.

On Friday, Ramdev, who is known to make controversial statements, said 'Ram matra Hindu hi nahi Musalmano ke bhi purvaj hain (Not only Hindus, Ram is the ancestor of Muslims too)'.

A Owaisi on Ramdev's remark 'Ram matra Hindu hi nahi Musalmano ke bhi purvaj hain': Would like to tell him that keep your beliefs to yourself, imposing your beliefs is wrong. RSS&Sangh Parivar make such statements every time. We are Muslims by choice, nobody forced our ancestors. pic.twitter.com/q5HW0f1iRP — ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2019

In Nadiad town of Kheda district, Ramdev said the Ram Temple issue is not linked to vote bank politics but a matter of people's sentiments.

"I believe that Ram mandir must be built in Ayodhya at all costs. If not in Ayodhya, where would you build it? It is obvious that it will not come up at Mecca, Madina or Vatican City," Ramdev said. The Yoga guru was attending a shivir or camp organised by Santram organisation.

"Nobody can dispute the fact that Lord Ram was born in Ayodhya. Not just Hindus, Lord Ram was the ancestor Muslims too. This issue of Ram temple is all about nation's pride. It has nothing to do with vote bank politics," Ramdev said.