Baba Ramdev says no to 'Cabinet rank' in Haryana

Chandigarh: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who was to be officially accorded the Cabinet minister status on Tuesday by the BJP government in Haryana, has declined the offer.

Speaking to reporters along with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Ramdev said “a sage is above insult and and respect. He is above politics.”

Ramdev said he is here for service and will do whatever has been asked by the Haryana government for the spread of yoga and ayurveda.

“I humbly decline the offer of being accorded the status of Cabinet minister,” the yoga guru stated.

Khattar on his part said that Baba Ramdev has only raised his status with his decision, but still asked him to accept the protocol to be accorded to him by the state government whenever he is in the state.

Special privileges under the protocol include an official car with a beacon, security personnel etc.

Had Ramdev accepted the Cabinet minister status, he would have been entitled to a ministerial bungalow and salary among other perks and benefits.

The Haryana government had earlier this month decided to give "status equivalent to Cabinet Minister" to Ramdev, who has been appointed as the state's brand ambassador to promote yoga and ayurveda.

"Ramdev, Brand Ambassador for promotion of yoga and ayurveda in Haryana, will be given status equivalent to Cabinet Minister," Haryana's Health and Sports Minister Anil Vij had said after a Cabinet meeting.

The state government was due to make a formal announcement today and felicitate Ramdev at a ceremony in Panchkula.

Vij had said that yoga would be made a compulsory subject in Haryana's schools for which 'yogshalas' will be constructed in all the towns and about 6,500 villages of the state under the guidance of Ramdev.

Last month, Haryana Assembly had witnessed uproarious scenes as the BJP government came under sharp attack from opposition Congress for allegedly "going out of way to please Ramdev by making him the brand ambassador" for promotion of yoga and ayurveda in the state.

(With Agency inputs)