The alleged derogatory jibe made by Patanjali official Satinath Barale against great Vaishnavite saint and reformer Srimanta Sankardev has evoked sharp reactions across Assam promoting the consumer goods company to tender unconditional apology on Sunday.
Yoga instructor Barale on Friday in a yoga camp at Duni in Darang district reportedly said that Sirmanta Shankardev isn’t a saint and there is nothing spiritual about the Namghar’s in Assam.
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Not only that, showing utter disrespect to the ‘Gurujona’, he even went on to say that the use of mustard oil for lighting earthen lamp in the Namghar is sheer stupidity.
Barale’s comments invited immediate backlash with several organisations lodged complaints against him with the police.
While Xatradhikar of Sualkuchi based Shri Shri Hati Xatra, Rajib Lochan Santa, filed an FIR against the yoga instructor at Sualkuchi police station, the Aikya Sena Asom filed a complaint at Panbazar police station on Sunday.
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He has also drawn ire on the social media. Many Facebook users vented their ire by demanding imposition of total ban on Patanjali products in Assam.
Many other angry users have sought immediate apology from the yoga instructor and appealed to the people of Assam to boycott Patanjali products.
Sensing trouble, the Patanjali authorities on Sunday tendered unconditional apology to defuse the situation.
“We have no intention of hurting the sentiments of the people of Assam. If anybody is hurt we are genuinely sorry. We will ensure this is not repeated in future,” a Patanjali official told reporters following a discussion with the activists of Srimanta Sankardev Yuba Mancha at Patanjali Yoga Training Institute in Mirza.
The official further said that yoga instructor Barale would be removed from the charge of Assam.