Ramdev, Sanjay Nirupam call each other liars

Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam has accused yoga guru Ramdev of evading taxes and making yoga a business.

Speaking at an event in Delhi on Friday, both Ramdev and Nirupam traded charges and tried to puncture the opponent's arguments on black money.

Nirupam went on the offensive first, alleging that Ramdev was "doing business in the name of yoga" and it was "unfortunate" that he was spreading lies about black money.

Nirupam alleged, "You did not pay (a huge amount of tax). There is a notice against you. You sell medicines. You have made yoga a business."

Ramdev retorted, "This is a blatant lie. Prove that I have stolen even Re one. You cannot prove that. What Nirupam said is a lie. Deploy all the investigating agencies after me."

Nirupam alleged that Ramdev was concealing facts and the government probe against him would soon be completed.

"The Congress party has taken the contract to spread falsehood," Ramdev said.

Asked about allegations against Bharatiya Janata Party chief Nitin Gadkari, Ramdev refused to directly answer and went on talking about sources of black money.

When the moderator asked him if Gadkari needed to resign, Ramdev said, "I am not the BJP president or a BJP member to answer this."

Nirupam shot back, "Then who has made (you) a member of Congress to talk about it (corruption allegations against Congress leaders)."