Arun Jaitley compares Baba Ramdev to Mahatma Gandhi, sparks controversy

New Delhi: Thanking Baba Ramdev for "awakening" the voters, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley compared the yoga teacher to Mahatama Gandhi in the national capital on Sunday.

"The role played by Ramdev in awakening the voters is similar to the struggles undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi and Jayprakash Narayan. He had no greed of any post... His motto is to strengthen the system. The struggles he undertook against black money and corruption is similar to those struggles (undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi and Jayprakash Narayan)," Mr Jaitley said at Sankalppurti Mahotsav, a programme organised by followers of Mr Ramdev after the electoral success of the BJP.

The yoga teacher had vowed not to return to his Patanjali ashram in Haridwar till the Congress-led UPA government was defeated.

Apart from Mr Jaitely, BJP President Rajnath Singh also attended the function. Mr Singh also thanked Mr Ramdev for his support in the electoral battle.

"I thank for your contribution (in the electoral battle). You have not worked for the party, but for the country," Mr Singh said.

The yoga teacher's large number of followers had actively campaigned for BJP candidates across the country.

Many BJP MPs including former army chief and Ghaziabad MP V K Singh, former Mumbai Police Commissioner and Bagpath MP Satypal Singh, Delhi MPs Udit Raj, Meenakshi Lekhi, Maheish Girri, former Himachal Pradesh CM and Kangra MP Shanta Kumar and Asansol MP Babul Supriyo were also present for the function.

Taking strong offence to the statement, Congress spokesperson Digvijaya Singh urged Jaitley to give a logical explanations to his comments.

Arun Jaitley compares Ramdev with Mahatma Gandhi and Jay Prakash Narayan ! Would try and meet him to understand the logic behind this.

— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) May 19, 2014