PARAMAHAMSA NITHYANANDA CONDEMNS TAX LEVY ON BABA RAMDEV

18 May 2012: 'We express our strong condemnation of the Central Government’s decision to reclassify Baba Ramdev’s three charitable trusts as commercial ventures, and levy income taxes to the tune of Rs.58 crore (580 million) on their ayurvedic medicine sales for the year 2009-10.

Baba Ramdev is a modern pioneer in spreading our time-honored Vedic traditions like ayurveda and yoga to the people of the world.  Thanks to Baba’s efforts, including running thousands of free yoga centers and ayurvedic chikitsalayas throughout the country, better health through safe traditional means has become a real possibility for many Indians.

The Government’s decision comes as a rude shock In view of the immense contribution of Baba Ramdev to the revival of traditional Indian systems of healthcare and medicine. Such a decision is not only a lethal blow to Ramdev Baba’s charitable institutions, but a powerful demoralizing and discouraging statement to many other pioneering initiatives by other smaller organizations, who are striving to revive our sacred culture and popularize it worldwide, at the same time making it a  source of profit and pride for the country.

As head of the world’s most ancient living Hindu organization, we request the Government authorities to kindly reinvestigate the dubious charges against Ramdev Baba’s organizations and restore to them the well-deserved status as charitable trusts. We also request that the tax levy of Rs.58 crore be withdrawn in the best interests of the Indian public, who ultimately stand to benefit from the innumerable charitable activities carried out by these organizations.'

H.H. Paramahamsa Nithyananda

293rd Guru Mahasannidhanam (pontiff), Madurai Aadheenam

Founder, Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam

with

Srila Sri Arunagirinatha Sri Gnanasambanda Desika Paramacharya Swamigal

292nd Guru Mahasannidhanam (pontiff), Madurai Aadheenam