The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): Patanjali Ayurved Limited, under the spotlight after the Supreme Court’s questioning, has issued a more prominent public apology, now occupying a quarter-page in newspapers. This move comes in the wake of remarks by the Supreme Court, which inquired if the initial apology by the yoga guru Ramdev and his associate Balkrishna matched the size of their typical advertisements.
The apology, titled “Unconditional Public Apology,” was issued to address non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders related to a case brought by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The IMA had accused Patanjali of running a smear campaign against the COVID-19 vaccination drive and modern medicine. In the apology, Patanjali expressed sincere regret for any disobedience of the Court’s directives, including a specific incident on November 22, 2023, involving a press conference that was deemed inappropriate.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Ramdev and Balkrishna, informed the court that the apology had been issued across 67 newspapers nationwide. However, the justices requested proof of the apology’s prominence compared to standard advertisements by Patanjali, leading to this larger and more explicit reiteration.
The revised apology includes explicit commitments to adhere to judicial instructions and uphold the “majesty of the court,” a step-up from the previous, less detailed apology which did not mention the names of Ramdev and Balkrishna. This enhanced apology also includes a promise that such mistakes will not be repeated and emphasizes Patanjali’s dedication to following legal mandates and court directives.