Yoga guru Ramdev, when asked about one of his past comments on reducing petrol prices, was seen losing his cool on camera and threatening the journalist.
The journalist asked the Patanjali brand ambassador, during an event in Haryana’s Karnal, about his comment he gave to the media that people should consider a government that can ensure petrol for ₹ 40 a litre and cooking gas at ₹ 300 a cylinder.
To this, Ramdev replied, “Yes, I said it, what can you do? Don’t keep asking such questions. Am I your thekedar (contractor) who has to keep answering your questions?”
When the journalist asked the question again, a visibly upset Ramdev, pointing at the journalist, shot back, “I made the comment. Ab kya kar lega (what will you do)? Just shut up. If you ask again, it is not good. Don’t speak like this, you must be the son of decent parents.”
Ramdev appealed to people to work harder in difficult times. “The government says, if fuel prices are low, they won’t get tax, then how will they run the country, pay salaries, build roads? Yes, inflation should go down, I agree… But people should work hard. Even I wake up at 4 in the morning and work till 10 at night,” Ramdev said as his supporters who sat around him clapped.
Petrol and diesel prices were raised by 80 paise a litre each on Wednesday, taking the total increase in rates in the last nine days to ₹ 5.60 per litre.
Petrol in Delhi costs ₹ 101.01 per litre as against ₹ 100.21 previously, while diesel rates have gone up from ₹ 91.47 per litre to ₹ 92.27, according to a price notification of state fuel retailers.
The central government has come under intense opposition attack over rise in fuel prices. The Congress has said that the former United Progressive Alliance government managed to keep fuel rates under control despite high international crude oil prices for several years.
