Baba Ramdev hints at launching a movement

The tone and tenor of his speech indicate that Baba Ramdev is planning to launch a movement in the near future

metro india news  I haridwar

On the occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day, yoga guru Baba Ramdev raised serious concerns about systemic problems plaguing the country, including deficiencies in the education system, widespread irregularities in government job recruitments, paper leaks, and social challenges facing the youth, while warning that failure to address these issues could lead to larger protests.

Speaking to the media after hoisting the national flag at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar on Saturday, Ramdev extended Independence Day greetings to the nation and paid tribute to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the country’s liberty. He stressed that true independence means building a strong system in education, healthcare, and the economy while upholding the self-respect of every citizen. “This country is not for political parties or only for the ruling party. It does not belong only to MLAs, MPs, the Prime Minister or the President. This country belongs to 145 crore Indians,” he said.

He pointed to complaints from school and college students about basic shortcomings in educational institutions. “Children are saying there are no teachers, no electricity, no water, no toilets. There are teachers but no books, or books but no teachers,” he noted. He also highlighted issues of cheating in examinations and paper leaks, adding that even after passing Class 10 and 12 board exams, the marks often fail to count properly for further opportunities, with selection instead depending heavily on competitive exams.

The yoga guru reserved his strongest criticism for the recruitment process in government jobs. He alleged that during interviews, irregularities run as high as 90 to 99 percent. According to him, candidates are often selected on the basis of caste, community, organisation or personal connections, while others are side-lined. He claimed that bribes ranging from Rs 25-50 lakh to even Rs 1 crore are taken in some cases, with selections decided in advance. “This is against justice and democracy. On one hand we say ‘Satyameva Jayate,’ and on the other, such practices continue,” Ramdev said. He linked these problems to growing dissatisfaction among the youth. Ramdev expressed concern that sections of Gen-Z are falling prey to substance abuse, including beedis, cigarettes and alcohol, and that some are involved in creating disorder.

At the same time, he acknowledged that many young people are doing excellent work. He urged that freedom should also mean freedom from addiction, disease and social evils. Ramdev issued a clear warning: if the system does not improve, larger movements could follow. “I am not a supporter of anarchy or protests for the sake of it, but there is a lot of ‘ghapala’ (scam and fraud) in the country. Fix it, otherwise it should not happen that Baba Ramdev has to launch another andolan,” he stated.

He emphasised that raising one’s voice against wrongdoing is a democratic right, but violence or lawlessness in the name of protest is unacceptable. Beyond the specific grievances, Ramdev called for national unity. He appealed to political leaders to stop fighting among themselves and instead resolve differences through discussion, noting that external challenges such as Pakistan and other foreign forces already exist. He urged citizens to break down walls of hatred based on caste, religion or politics, and to reject the “divide and rule” mindset. “Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, Dalits, Adivasis, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and others should not stand against one another,” he said, calling for a pledge on this Independence Day to end such divisions. He also advised people to appreciate the positive developments taking place in agriculture, industry and the economy while remaining vigilant about shortcomings. Ramdev reiterated the collective responsibility of making India the world’s foremost economic, spiritual and political superpower, a duty he said rests with every citizen, not just those in power.

The remarks, delivered on a day of national celebration, drew attention to persistent challenges in education and employment that continue to affect millions of young Indians. While Ramdev has a history of leading public campaigns on various issues, his latest comments underscored a mix of patriotic aspiration and pointed criticism of institutional failures. As the country marks eight decades of independence, his call for systemic reform, youth empowerment free from addiction, and social cohesion resonated as both a reminder of unfinished work and an appeal for collective action.