The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Baba Ramdev too feels Indian middle class is overeating

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Saturday, May 10, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Baba Ramdev too feels Indian middle class is overeating

Baba Ramdev.

HYDERABAD: Popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev has concurred with US President George Bush’s assertion that excess consumption of food by Indian middle class has led to a global rise in prices of foodgrains.

Endorsing the argument that the rising economic levels of the middle class was leading to ‘overeating’, the health guru, who enjoys countrywide popularity for his pranayama techniques, felt that the middle class in India was eating more than necessary. This was also having a direct bearing on inflation, he felt.

Curse of middle class

In an hour-long interaction with mediapersons on Friday, Baba Ramdev pointed out that obesity had now become the curse of the middle class.

“It’s high time they controlled their way of eating. They eat without any control and become obese and then come to me to shed weight. Overeating, obesity and inflation are all linked and I ask them to eat less,” the Baba said.

Speaking in chaste Hindi, Baba Ramdev was at his expansive best. He was in the city to train yoga teachers of his institution – Patanjali Yogpeeth.

But his interaction went beyond the pranayama techniques, yoga and health.

From eating habits to the Ramasetu project, controversy over the cheerleaders in cricket matches to sex education in schools, the Baba had a ready comment.

No mincing of words

He did not mince words in condemning the IMA for endorsing the fruit juice drinks of Pepsico. “IMA has done nothing for the development of Indian medicine. Who are they to endorse products of such companies, which produce drinks laced with pesticides? IMA has become a puppet of such MNCs,” he thundered.

The yoga guru also had strong views on the introduction of sex education in schools. “Why are politicians not talking about introducing courses on character development? Politicians themselves are characterless. They are only capable of thinking of trivial issues like sex education. Nobody is talking about inculcating patriotism and healthy living among children.”

Baba Ramdev felt that cricket would die in India soon, as “they have converted the game into a huge drama.” He was referring to the controversy over cheerleaders and the IPL matches.

“If someone thought cheerleaders should be there on the ground, why didn’t they think of the Mumbai bar dancers, who have been rendered jobless” was his angry retort on the issue.

Yoga training

Responding to a query on the Ramasetu issue he said: “If it’s a natural formation, no one has a right to destroy it. If it is believed to be built by Lord Rama, then there is no question of destroying it.”

He was confident that no government would be able to destroy Ramasetu.

The yoga teachers of Patanjali Yogpeeth will train 9,000 persons in the State by this year end.

“They will teach yoga in all the districts of the State. They will also inculcate a sense of patriotism and nationalism among them. We are also trying to spread the message of population control and encourage public to take interest while voting during the elections,” he said.

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