Ramdev's remark reprehensible: Cong

New Delhi, Apr 4: Congress today slammed as "reprehensible" yoga guru Ramdev's remarks that he would have "beheaded" those who refuse to chant "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" were it not for the law of the land, and saw a "deliberate" agenda of BJP and RSS behind it.

"The ruling party is trying to shift attention away from policy issues and incidents like continuing suicides of farmers and drought through such remarks one after another.

"BJP and RSS have a deliberate agenda of dividing the society by having such provocative statements made by people like Ramdev, Niranjan Jyoti or BJP's friend Asaduddin Owaisi. We reject it with the contempt it deserves," party's Communication department chief Randeep Surjewala told reporters here.

Noting that Ramdev considers himself a yoga and spiritual guru, Surjewala said that to make a statement about beheading people is a "complete" negation of both yoga and spiritualism. "It is reprehensible and condemnable," he said.

Slamming the call for "violent action and public intimidation", Congress spokesman Sanjay Jha said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must take action against Ramdev.

Ramdev's outburst came against the backdrop of AIMIM chief Owaisi's recent remarks that he will not chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' even if a knife is put to his throat.

PTI