Baba Ramdev apologizes for his comments that "women look good even when they don't wear anything"

Digital Desk: Yoga guru Ramdev offered an apology days after stirring controversy for a statement that was condemned as'sexist.' The apology comes after the Maharashtra Women's Commission issued him a notice for statements he made at an event attended by state deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis' wife Amruta. 

On Friday, at a Yoga training programme in Thane, Maharashtra, Yoga guru Ramdev was heard saying, "Women look beautiful in saris, they look terrific in salwar suits, and in my opinion, they look good even if they don't wear anything like me."

On the occasion, Ramdev also exhorted people to enjoy long lives by remaining joyful and smiling, as Amruta did. 

He talked with women who had packed their yoga gear and saris for the conclave and attended Ramdev's training camp. Because the meeting began immediately following the training camp, many women did not have time to change and went in their Yoga outfits.

Observing this, Ramdev stated that it was not an issue if they did not have time to changed to saris and could do so after returning home, and then made his statement, which was deemed "sexist" by some. 

Shrikant Shinde, son of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and other significant figures attended the event, including Thane's Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde.

Taking serious note of Ramdev's contentious statement, the chairwoman of the Maharashtra State Women Commission, Rupali Chakankar, issued a notice to the latter on Saturday, requesting him to clarify his position within three days. 

Rupali Chakankar, in a tweet today, stated that Ramdev had apologised for his words. "The commission office has received his response on this, and he has apologised for the statement made," Chakankar said today in a follow-up tweet.

Opposition parties in Maharashtra and other areas of the country also denounced the Yoga guru's remark. 

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut blasted Ramdev for the remark and questioned why Amruta did not raise a protest when the remark was made. "When the Governor makes a derogatory remark about Shivaji, when the Karnataka chief minister threatens to grab Maharashtra villages, and now when BJP campaigner Ramdev abuses women, the government remains silent." "Has the government kept its mouth shut on the mortgage to Delhi?" Raut stated. 

Workers from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) protested Ramdev's remark and adorned his photo with a pair of chappals.