Ramdev claims Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan may rejoin India

Yoga guru Ramdev said in Raipur that Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan would one day reintegrate with India. He paired the claim with criticism of religious persecution and a call for constitutional limits on public discourse.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. (Photo: PTI)Yoga guru Ramdev on Monday said Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan would one day become part of India again, and asked people to be patient. He also said no religion was under threat in India, but the country’s honour and dignity were at stake.Speaking to reporters at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur, Ramdev also commented on religious conversion, Sanatan Dharma, governance and democracy. He criticised what he called persecution of Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh, outlined his vision for India, and said freedom of expression in a democracy should remain within constitutional and ethical limits.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. "The atrocities and injustices suffered by Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh are among the greatest cruelties in human civilisation," he said, adding that those 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 said. On 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". "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 said.Ramdev said he wanted India to become the world’s best democracy and its citizens the world’s best citizens. "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," he said. He added that India should command equal respect in every country, including the US, China and Russia. On Sanatan Dharma, Ramdev said there was no deficiency in the religion that should push people towards 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.He said there was no inherent flaw in Sanatan Dharma despite what he called false allegations of social hierarchy, discrimination and untouchability. "There are merely a few individuals with distorted mindsets within the fold who practice such discrimination and social stratification," he said. Ramdev added that being Sanatani meant 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.Ramdev said the government had a major responsibility to ensure that religious and social systems functioned properly and without conspiracy or wrongdoing. "I believe that the state apparatus also has a massive responsibility. The state machinery should facilitate the functioning of the religious order in such a way that no conspiracies are hatched against it," he said. He added that the government must ensure there was no irregularity in religion, education, healthcare, economy and agriculture. "The primary focus must be on further improving these systems; only then will we be able to build a developed India by 2047," he said.On PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti’s remark that she was a "dimagi Naxal", Ramdev said such statements amounted to spreading "intellectual anarchy" in the country. "I do not want to get into political statements, but intellectual anarchy is undemocratic," he said. He added that people had the right to protest and express their views, but this should remain within democratic, constitutional, ethical and spiritual limits. "Everyone has the freedom to speak in a democracy, but that freedom should not be used in any manner for the destruction of the country," he said.In his remarks, Ramdev linked questions of religion, governance and public conduct, while repeating that no faith was under threat in India and that the focus should be on protecting the country’s honour, improving institutions and staying within democratic limits.- EndsWith PTI inputsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 17, 2026 23:33 IST