Yoga expert Ramdev on Monday said Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan would one day become part of India.
Speaking to reporters at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur, Ramdev said none of Hinduism, Islam, or Christianity is under threat in the country, but India's honour and dignity are at stake.
Reacting to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's remarks on the condition of Hindus in Pakistan, Ramdev alleged that Hindus had faced "atrocities and injustices" in Pakistan and Bangladesh. On the issue of religious conversion and the law enacted in Chhattisgarh to check it, Ramdev said allegations of persecution of Hindus, Christians, or Muslims were part of "political rhetoric".
On Sanatan Dharma, Ramdev said there was no deficiency in the religion that should prompt people to convert to Islam or Christianity.
"Sanatan culture and religion are ancient. What deficiency or shortcoming in them would compel us to become Muslim or Christian? A handful of Muslims converted our own Sanatani Hindu brethren to Islam by employing tactics ranging from the sword and allurements to miracles and the propagation of misconceptions.
"We remained silent even then. We also stayed silent when Christians converted people to Christianity," he said.
Ramdev said there is no inherent flaw in Sanatan Dharma, despite the false allegations of social hierarchy, discrimination, and untouchability levelled against it.
"There are merely a few individuals with distorted mindsets within the fold who practise such discrimination and social stratification," he said.
Ramdev added that being Sanatani means adopting the dignity of Lord Ram, the yoga and karma of Lord Krishna, and the purity and truthfulness associated with Lord Shiva.
"If these values are followed, the question of religious conversion will not remain," he said.
"Whatever religious changes have taken place in the country, at least ensure that no one is persecuted in future. There is no threat to Hinduism, Islam, or Christianity. What is under threat is the honour and dignity of India," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
"The atrocities and injustices suffered by Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh are among the greatest cruelties in human civilisation," he said, adding that people responsible for such acts should refrain from making such statements.
"The day will also come when Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan will reintegrate into India. Just have a little patience," Ramdev reportedly said.
He said India should command equal respect in every country, including the US, China, and Russia.
"I want to see the Indian economy become the best in the world, the rupee's value at least become equal to that of the dollar and pound, and the Indian passport become so strong that Indians do not need visas anywhere in the world," PTI quoted the yoga guru as saying.
