If not for law, would have beheaded lakhs who refused to chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai': Ramdev

Yoga teacher Ramdev has added fuel to the controversy over the chanting of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. He said that he would have beheaded anyone who refused to chant it had it not been for the law of the land.

Without naming anyone, Ramdev said, "Some topi people are saying they will not say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. If there was no law and order we would have decapitated lakhs who don't say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' but we respect the law of the land."

Ramdev added that chanting the slogan has nothing to do with religion and that it should be chanted as an affirmation of faith in the motherland. The remarks were made at 'Sadbhavana Sammelan' organised in Haryana in the backdrop of recent series of agitations in the state.

CPI-M leader Brinda Karat hit out at Ramdev and said, "Their slogans are divisive rather than uniting. None are above the law and Constitution."

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, too, had spoken out in favour of chanting the slogan.