Congress, AAP seek action against Ramdev

The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party on Monday demanded action against yoga guru Ramdev for his statement that he would have beheaded those who refused to chant 'Bharat mata ki jai', had not the law of the land prevented him from do.

"Baba Ramdev's threat to 'cut heads off' at #RSS meet is a call to violent action and public intimidation. Mr Modi, await your action. Now!" Congress spokesman Sanjay Jha tweeted.

"Narendra Modi needs to tell India what action he will be taken against both Ramdev and the RSS," he added.

Ramdev made the controversial comments at a Sadbhavna rally organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Rohtak on Sunday.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashutosh said Ramdev should be arrested.

"This man should be immediately arrested and sent to jail. Such people have no place in a civilised society," Ashutosh said.

However, Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Sitaram Yechury dismissed the issue as a "diversionary tactic" of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"Is 'Bharat mata ki jai' an issue more important for the BJP than the issues of drought and farmers' suicides? It is just a tactic to divert (public) attention from the real issues," Yechury said.