Centre defends Ramdev, says 'Putrajeevak beej' is named after herb

Panaji: Giving a clean chit to 'Putrajeevak Beej', an ayurvedic medicine promoted by yoga guru Baba Ramdev's trust, Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Naik on Tuesday said the medicine was named after a herb of a similar name.

He said the medicine does not guarantee birth of male children, as claimed by the Opposition.

Speaking to reporters at the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) state headquarters here Naik, a North Goa MP, however, also said that his ministry was also open to changing the name of the product manufactured by Ramdev's Divya pharmacy if there were objections.

"The name of the medicine is like that, nothing has been added. Even the scriptures call the jadi booti (herb) by the same name," Naik said.

The medicine had sparked off a debate in Parliament, after a section of the Opposition accused Ramdev of peddling a product which promised delivery of male children.

While Ramdev later clarified that 'putrajeevak beej' (seed that gives life to a son in its literal translation) was only meant to treat infertility and had only borrowed the name from ayurvedic scriptures, AYUSH ministry had set up a committee to probe the issue.

While Naik confirmed the committee had not submitted its report yet, he also ruled out that the medicine was marketed in a misleading way.

"The (committee's) decision has not come... Suppose there are objections, then there would no problem in changing the name," Naik said.

The newly formed AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) ministry oversees affairs related to alternative medicines in the country.