AFP
 
New Delhi, Jan 4: A popular Indian yoga guru whose classes attract hundreds of thousands of morning television viewers had been accused of using human bones in his medicines, media reports said on Wednesday.

Guru Ramdev -   who claims to be able to cure illnesses through yoga -  has denied the allegations.

High-profile communist legislator Brinda Karat accused the teacher, whose yoga telecast is estimated to have a following of around a million viewers, of using animal and human parts in drugs made at his pharmacy.

"The impotency drug contains testicles of animals, crushed to powder. (Human) bone and skull powder was also detected," Brinda was quoted by the media as telling a press conference.

"Using the popularity of television channels, he is selling drugs which are adulterated. This is a huge breach of trust to his followers," she said.

Brinda said she had collected two samples of Ramdev's medicines -- which claim to cure diseases ranging from acidity to impotency and even cancer -- from his pharmacy at the Hindu pilgrimage town of Haridwar in northern Uttaranchal state and had sent them to the Health Ministry for testing.

She produced a letter from the Union Health Ministry as evidence that a laboratory report on two medicines confirmed her claim that animal and human parts were used in the supposedly herbal remedies.

The Ministry confirmed it had conducted the tests but refused to divulge the results.

"We are not taking any action on it now. The matter now lies with the Uttaranchal government," said Health Ministry official Radhakrishnan.

The spiritual leader denied Brinda's claim, saying he was ready for any probe. "It is a conspiracy against me," he said.