Is Ramdev giving a business spin to create his own army?

Yoga guru and business tycoon Baba Ramdev, who has often been criticised for enjoying Z plus security, forayed into Rs 40,000 crore private security market with the launch of Parakram Suraksha Pvt Ltd. at Haridwar on Thursday.

Ramdev announced on twitter that his newly launched security firm will provide jobs to 25000 to 50,000 youth in the country and soon be among the top security companies of India. He told a section of media that Parakram Suraksha Private Limited will “prepare individuals for self and country's security.”

“Security is a very important issue either for a man or a woman. Our aim is to prepare individuals for self and country’s security and for this we have formed Parakram. This will help develop military instinct in each and every citizen of the country so as to awaken the spirit and determination for individual and national security,” Ramdev told ANI news agency, adding that trainees at Parakram Suraksha will even be ready to join the armed forces.

“We are trying to give our best facilities to them. There are people from the age group of 22-40 years of age...We have just started this, in future we will train females also,” Acharya Bal Krishna, Patanjali CEO, told the news agency, adding, “Ramdev has hired retired Army and police personnel to train young interested recruits and plan to make a mark in security.”

“We were thinking that we will call a few youngsters who have applied for the police. Most of these people have already participated in Army and police trainings...we are giving them the toughest training similar to the armed forces,” Acharya Bal Krishna, who heads Ramdev's Patanjali told media at the launch function.

Many followers of Ramdev have gone gaga over yet another addition in his vast empire with many proclaiming on social media that his new venture would protect Hindus and the country from external as well as internal threats.

Hailing him as a trendsetter who is now bound to give “sleepless nights” to the doyens of security services, others described Ramdev as a living dynamo whose life story must be a part of academic curriculum across educational institutions.

Nevertheless, various comments on social media have been critical of Ramdev and his entry into security business. They see private security firm as a “a business spin to his own army.”

Besides, speculation are rife that Ramdev may now give up his Z plus security and other para-military troopers that guard his headquarters and business establishments.

Retired scientist Amitabha Basu wrote on his Facebook wall: “Is this godman-turned-businessman entering the lucrative security business, or is he raising a Hindutvavadi vigilante army?”

Nikhil Udupa posted on Facebook: “Baba Ramdev is venturing into the business of private security. So now the gau rakshaks will get jobs and end this nonsense or we might just get a new well trained right-wing militia out for hire. Exciting times ahead.”

Avdhash Kaushal, an academic and activist told National Herald: “Ramdev is an insecure man. He has started his own security agency just to secure his future.”

Commenting on the dramatic rise of his business enterprise, the Padamshree awardee and a native further said, “His business dramatically boomed in a very short span that raises many doubts. He has been getting unaccounted money and free of cost land from the government. But Ramdev knows that he may not get such favours in future.”

When contacted, local Left leader Samar Bhandari said: “I am very amused to discover that a saint feels insecure. Let’s wait and watch how things unfold in the days to come.”

Patanjali Ayurved—which has nearly 5,000 retail outlets across India—posted a turnover of over Rs 10,500 crore for the last fiscal year. Ramdev’s Patanjali, according to ANI, has made him the 25th richest person in India with Rs 25,600 crore of wealth.

“In May, the company (Patanjali Ayurved) said it was looking at a 10-fold jump in sales in the next five years. Set up in 2006, Patanjali has ventured into food retail, restaurants and apparel. Recently, it announced a school for the children of martyred soldiers,” an NDTV report says, adds referring to a study, “over five million security guards are believed to be working across the country, employed by some 1,500 companies. The business is projected to grow at around 40 per cent rate.”

Many Ramdev critiques, however, are wondering if this too shall be another ‘charitable and tax-free business’ of the Patanjali conglomerate?