India denies role in Ramdev questioning at London

The external affairs ministry Sunday denied that it had any role in the detention of yoga guru Baba Ramdev at London's Heathrow airport.

"No truth whatsoever in such malicious rumours whatsoever," external affairs ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin tweeted in reply to a tweet asking whether the ministry had issued any Red Corner alert against Ramdev.

Ramdev was detained at London's Heathrow airport for eight hours by British immigration and customs officials and then released Saturday.

Ramdev's spokesman S.K. Tejarawala said the yoga guru was neither asked any question nor was his luggage checked.

"Swamiji felt harassment there," Tejarawala said.

Ramdev was reportedly questioned by the immigration officials as he traveled to Britain on a visitor visa instead of a business visa, and he was also questioned by customs about certain medicines he was carrying with him.

"He (Ramdev) asked several times to immigration authorities why he was detained as he had done no crime or illegal thing in his life, but the authorities kept mum and replied nothing," Tejarawala said.

"Swamiji was carrying only four sets of clothes and a diary containing facts and figures related to his agitation and movement, and Ved mantras in Sanskrit and Hindi," he said in a statement.

"This incident is a case of gross insult to the pride and prestige of 125 crore Indians. Swamiji had visited the UK several times in the last seven years and conducted many yoga camps."

Ramdev is visiting London to attend a function organised by the Patanjali Yogpeeth on the 120th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's speech at the World Parilament of Religions in Chicago in 1893.