Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has found himself embroiled in a fresh controversy following the previous troubles. The controversy began after he used the term “sharbat jihad” in a viral video. In the video he criticized a beverage company for allegedly using its earnings to fund the construction of mosques and madrasas.

The video was shared by Patanjali Products on Facebook. It promotes the brand’s rose sharbat targeting the competitors in the beverage industry.

The Controversial video

“If you drink their (Muslim-Rooh Afza) sherbet, Madrasas and Mosques will be built, if you drink ours , Gurukul will be built”

– Baba Ramdev pic.twitter.com/ku2K2caVWu

— VIRUVIRUS (@viruvirus1085) April 10, 2025

Ramdev in the video warns people about cold drinks, comparing them to “toilet cleaners. He wents on to claim that some companies selling sharbat are using their profits to build mosques and madrasas. “There’s a company that gives you sharbat, but the money it earns is used to construct madrasas and mosques. That’s fine, it’s their religion,” Ramdev says.

“In the name of quenching thirst during summers, people drink cold beverages that are basically toilet cleaners. On one side, there’s the attack of toilet-cleaner-like poison, and on the other, there’s a company selling sharbat, which uses the money earned from it to build mosques and madrasas. That’s fine, it’s their religion,” Ramdev says in the video.

Claims to Build educational institutions

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev further contrasts the benefits of drinking Patanjali’s rose sharbat. He asserted that the revenue from it supports educational and cultural institutions such as Gurukuls, Acharyakulam, Patanjali University, and the Bharatiya Shiksha Board. “But if you drink that sharbat, madrasas and mosques will be built. But if you drink this [Patanjali’s rose sharbat], gurukuls will be built,” he explains.

“There’s a company that gives you sharbat, but the money it earns is used to construct madrasas and mosques,” Ramdev alleged. “If you drink that sharbat, madrasas and mosques will be built. But if you drink this [referring to Patanjali’s rose sharbat], gurukuls will be built, Acharya Kulam will be developed, Patanjali University will expand, and the Bharatiya Shiksha Board will grow.”

“Sharbat Jihad” Criticized on Social Media

Ramdev coined the term “sharbat jihad,” drawing comparisons to the controversial concepts of “love jihad” and “vote jihad.” He further urges people to protect themselves from this so-called “sharbat jihad” by choosing Patanjali’s products instead of any other.

However, the video quickly gained attention on social media. The social media users started criticizing Ramdev for playing the Hindu-Muslim card to promote his business. Some users even pointed out that Ramdev had previously obtained halal certification for some Patanjali products and sold them in the Middle East region.

Video viral

Since its release the video has garnered over 37 million views. Some users joked that Ramdev’s business was slowing down, leading him to create a new controversy to boost sales.

“Protect your family and innocent children from the poison of toilet cleaners being sold in the name of soft drinks and sharbat Jihad. Bring home only Patanjali sharbat and juices,” Patanjali shared on social media.

Meanwhile, the recent incident adds to the list of legal challenges faced by Ramdev and Patanjali. This follows previous controversies and court cases over misleading claims about the brand’s products.