Ramdev fumes as NRI seeks yoga patent

Protesting efforts by a  non-resident Indian in the United States for securing patent for yoga, Swami Ramdev on Tuesday said either government of India should get the patent or it be given to his Patanjali Ashram.

"How can any Tom, Dick and Harry, who has no true knowledge of yoga, can get patent of yoga, the traditional knowledge of India," Ramdev said.

An NRI Vikram Chaudhary is reported to have applied for the patent of the Yoga with the American administration.

"Either the government of India should get the patent for yoga or it be given to our Patanjali Yoga Ashram, a trust which had valuably contributed in popularising the ancient science in the country and abroad," the yoga guru, who is in Shimla to start a week-long camp from May 17, said.

Ramdev lamented efforts of "greedy" babas and other profit-making organisations to earn money through yoga.

"Fake babas and others who regularly consume liquor or eat meat have mushroomed in large numbers as experts of yoga...Their interest is commercial," he said.