Yoga guru Ramdev was seen in a video lashing out at a journalist when asked about his comments a few years ago about lowering the petrol charge to Rs 40 when the authorities changed it in 2014. The reporter misled Ramdev about his assurance that complaints would be reduced if the petrol and LPG people voted for the ruling (Congress).
Yoga Guru, in a 2014 TV interview, said: “I have information with me which says that the basic rate of petrol is only Rs 35, on which 50% tax is levied.” “It is very real that 50% will be taxed at 1%. Itna arthashastra to humne vi pada rak hai. [If the tax is reduced from 50% to 1%, (fuel prices will surely come down). I studied economics that much,” he said in the interview.
The co-founder of Patanjali Ayurveda said that important economists do not run the nation’s financial system. “They are slaves to the Washington Consensus [a set of monetary policy recommendations to shape the country], Sensex and FDI,” he said.
In a brand new video that has gone viral, Ramdev is seen telling the reporter to ask the question. “Don’t ask such a question. Do I expect that I have to respond to some words? I made that announcement and now I don’t. Do what you can.”
Ramdev told this reporter that if he asked such questions again, it would not be desirable for him.
The debate comes amid a steep upward push in gasoline prices over the past 10 days.
