Shocks conscience: Delhi High Court on 'Sharbat-Jihad' comment by Baba Ramdev against Rooh Afza

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday slammed Patanjali founder Baba Ramdev for using communal slurs to target the pharmaceutical and food company Hamdard and its popular drink Rooh Afza [Hamdard National Foundation India v. Patanjali Foods Limited & Anr]..After a preliminary hearing in a suit filed by Hamdard against Patanjali and Ramdev, Justice Amit Bansal warned of a strong order."It shocks the conscience of court. Indefensible," the Court remarked as it asked the counsel representing Ramdev to remain present after seeking instructions. .Ramdev made the controversial remarks on April 3 while promoting his company's product - Gulab Sharbat.In a video, he targeted Hamdard's Rooh Afza and claimed that Hamdard was using its money for building masjids and madrasas. Ramdev also used the term 'sharbat jihad' in his video. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had last week filed a police complaint against Ramdev in Bhopal for allegedly promoting religious hatred, as per a news report. According to the Times of India, Ramdev later defended his remark, saying he had not named any specific brand in his video. .Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Hamdard, told the High Court today that Ramdev was going on unbated against Hamdard and attacking the religion of the company's owners. "This is a case which is shocking, which goes beyond disparagement. This is a case of creating communal divide, akin to hate speech. It will not have protection from law of defamation," Rohatgi said.He added that such videos should not be allowed even for a moment. We have enough problems in the country already, Rohatgi said. The Court was also told that Ramdev had attacked another company Himalaya as well because it is also owned by a Muslim..Rohtagi also told the Court that Ramdev had earlier faced strictures from the Supreme Court for targeting allopathy. On a lighter note, Rohatgi conceded that there he had appeared on "the wrong side". "A hard hand is required to nip this in bud," Rohatgi argued about the present case against Ramdev..'Sharbat-Jihad' comment: Baba Ramdev agrees to take down videos against Rooh Afza after Delhi High Court rap.Senior Advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Sandeep Sethi with advocates Pravin Anand, Dhruv Anand, Nikhil Rohatgi, Udita Patro, Shivender Singh Pratap, Dhananjay Khanna, Nimrat Singh, Sampurnaa Sanyal, Navdeep and Mehak Khanna appeared for Hamdard.