Women's groups demand action against Ramdev's pharmacy

New Delhi, May 7 (UNI) Several women's organisations have condemned the reported sale and propagation of pre-birth sex-selection drugs by a pharmacy owned by Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and demanded action against those found guilty of violating the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act.

''We demand stern action against the pharmacy marketing these purportedly sex-selection drugs and punishment to all those found guilty of violating the Act,'' the groups said.

A joint statement, signed by AIDWA, Centre for Women's Development Studies, Joint Women's programme, National Federation of India and YWCA, said the PNDT Act is unambiguous in outlawing any propagation of sex preference.

''It also bans pre-birth sex-selection in any form and technology,'' they added.

Maintaining that the alarming decline in the birth of girl child represents discrimination and violence against women, they said, adding it violates fundamental principle of equality.

''Commercial exploitation of discriminatory practices should be stopped,'' they said.

Demanding an immediate end to the manufacture and sale of such drugs, the groups said police immediately register cases against those against whom there is prime facie evidence.

UNI