Ramdev in soup over 'son-guaranteeing' pill

Yoga guru says the drug is only for treating infertility, his site claims it can help conceive 'male' child

The Upper House of Parliament on Thursday witnessed pandemonium over yoga guru Ramdev’s anti-infertility medicine ‘Divya Putrajeevak’ seeds. The medicine, manufactured by Ramdev’s Divya Pharmacy and priced at Rs 35 a packet, guarantees male child for childless couples.

The Janata Dal (United)’s K C Tyagi, who raised the issue, demanded a probe into the drug firm. The company, however, maintains the medicine is an ayurvedic product and helps cure infertility.

Responding to the controversy, Ramdev tweeted: “Putrajivak is classical ayurvedic name & deals with infertility issues not gender selection (sic)”.

However, the medicine’s description at www.ramdevmedicines.com  seems to contradict Ramdev’s claim. It says: “Divya Putajeevak seeds by Divya Pharmacy help make a female potent to conceive a child. It is an extremely effective herb that has been used for ages in ancient India to rectify the defects in a woman’s body to make her conceive. According to ancient texts, it is also helpful in conceiving a male child.”

According to a press release by Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust, some people out of ignorance and others with vested interest have been trying to deliberately malign Ramdev and ayurveda. “But the fact is that Putrajeevak medicine was developed in ayurveda thousands of years ago for the benefit of childless couples and those suffering impotency,” it said.

The firm says the medicine removes toxins in the female reproductive tract. Divya Putrajeevak is a powerful female aphrodisiac that helps enhance female sexual desires. It also works as rasayana and, hence, helps slow down the ageing processes.

Some say that the Opposition’s aim in targeting Ramdev is to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an admirer of the yoga guru. Sources say the medicine has a high demand in Haryana, where sex ratio is skewed. Also, the BJP government in Haryana recently appointed Ramdev as its brand ambassador.