ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE PEACE ISLAND A CHANCE; Little Cumbrae yoga controversy.
Byline: John FergusonA CONTROVERSIAL yoga guru is turning a Scottish beauty spot into an international base and renaming it Peace Island.
Indian Swami Ramdev has joined forces with Scots care home millionaires Sam and Sunita Poddar to open a centre on Little Cumbrae, off the Ayrshire coast.
Ramdev's claims that yoga can treat cancer and HIV have been blasted as "quackery of the highest order" and he has been slammed for giving "false hope to ill people".
He was also once accused of using ground-up human bones and animal parts in his herbal medicines.
Mission
But the Poddar family have defended Ramdev and the Little Cumbrae project.
On the website for their Patanjali Yog Peeth (UK) Trust - a registered charity and sister organisation to Ramdev's Indian movement - they said their mission was "to make a disease-free world through a scientific approach to Yog and Ayurved (alternative medicine)".
On Ramdev, it adds: "As always, he will be promoting good health, prosperity and peace in the community."
Ramdev is a household name in India and has millions of followers around the world who say he has changed their lives. Hundreds are expected to make a pilgrimage to the island for the opening ceremony.
The Poddar trust's website confirms Ramdev's visit.
It adds: "He will inauguratePYPT's new international headquarters on Peace Island, meet and address PYPT Yog Teachers, Members and the public in Scotland and England."
But in India, Ramdev has sparked outrage. Mohammed Abbas, of the Indian Medical Association, said that although yoga is "good exercise, it cannot be used to make ridiculous claims about curing HIV or cancer. This is false hope for ill people".
Another expert in India, Sanal Edamaruku, added: "Claiming such absurdities is against the law. The magical remedies act of 1954 was brought in to stop people such as Ramdev promoting dangerous ideas about curing cancer and the like."
The Poddars, who own care home company Lambhill Court Ltd, bought Little Cumbrae for pounds 2million last month after falling in love with its "history and beauty".
The price included 684 acres of land, a 12-bedroom mansion house, a lighthouse, boathouse and jetty.
Proud
Mrs Poddar said she and her husband employ more than 400 people and "are proud of what we do".
She added: "On the charity side of things, I am an international co-ordinator. Our aim is to promote healthy living through yoga.
"The community has given us a lot, now it's time to pay back. Little Cumbrae is our way of paying back into the community.
"It is a fine thing for Scotland. I feel very proud to own this island.
"We want a centre to help people live as one with nature. We want to support and contribute."
The opening ceremony is due to take place on September 27. The Poddars have arranged to ferry people to and from the event.
CAPTION(S):
PEACE OF WORK: Ramdev is popular despite anger over his methods, and Little Cumbrae, below right FANS: With actress Shilpa Shetty
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| Publication: | Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland) |
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| Date: | Sep 3, 2009 |
| Words: | 501 |
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