Yoga guru Ramdev, who hogged the limelight of late for his anti-black money campaign, today announced his entry into the fast moving consumer goods and herbal retail markets with his 'swadeshi' line of products.
Flanked by close aide Balkrishna, the yoga guru disclosed his plans to sell his brand Patanjali's products in the open market from over 1 lakh 'swadeshi kendras' which he planned to set up across the country by April this year.
"In our country swadeshi is limited to khadi only but we will take it further," Ramdev told reporters here.
"There are people who will see only business in this venture, but I consider this my rashtra dharm [national duty]," he added.
The yoga guru said his products would be cheaper by 30% compared to products being sold by MNCs like Hindustan Lever and P&G. Ramdev said his business model would boost the lives and economy of people in rural India.
"Yoga, ayurveda and swadeshi are not a profession but a mission for us," Ramdev said.
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"Approximately half the economy of the country is in the clutches of corrupt people and foreign companies. Our mission is to strengthen swadeshi," he said.
In response to a question that Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh had called him a 'maha thug' (super cheat), Ramdev said he was someone who could set cheats right.
Ramdev said there were people who could say all kinds of things even against great men like Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and others whom he considered his ideals.