Baba Ramdev lashed out against actor Shahrukh Khan for his recent remark on the "growing religious intolerance... Read More

RANCHI: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Wednesday lashed out against Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan for his recent remark on the "growing religious intolerance" in the country, and said whatever the actor said is mere rhetoric.

Hitting out at Shahrukh, Ramdev said the actor should give up his Padmashree Award and all the money that came his way following the laurel if he is genuinely concerned over religious intolerance.

“Sab hawabaazi hain (All these are empty talks). If Shahrukh is really concerned, he must give up his Padmashree Award,” Ramdev said in Ranchi. “If he is willing to protest, he must also make a draft of all the money he made after winning the award and donate it to the Prime Minister’s (relief) fund,” the yoga guru added. Baba Ramdev was inaugurating an Anganwaadi center in the state capital and was flanked by state ministers Lois Marandi, CP Singh and Neera Yadav on the dais.

On his 50th birthday two days earlier, the actor had said that there is extreme intolerance in the country. Further explaining his stand, Shahrukh had said not being secular is the worst thing one can do as a patriot. Though the actor did not comment on whether he will return his laurels as a show of protest, Shahrukh made it apparently clear he was supporting the writers, artists and scientists in their act of returning laurels to protest what they see as a growing intolerance in the country.

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Shahrukh's remark was criticized by BJP leader Kailash Vijaywargia a day later. On Wednesday, Baba Ramdev joined actor turned BJP MP Manoj Tiwary who also condemned the actor’s statement.

The yoga guru, who is currently hosting a yoga camp in Jharkhand's capital, also criticized the writers, scientists and artists for their recent gesture of returning laurels. “Only returning the laurels on namesake will not do. They must return the money they earned with the award,” Ramdev said. He further criticized the gesture saying it is a politically motivated move to please the opponent camp. “A majority of those returning the awards have got the laurels with backing of Congress and the left parties. This is nothing but attempts to please those political parties and their leaders,” Ramdev said.