Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Wednesday opposed high fees on devotional channels, adding that the government wants Rs 32 crore tax for telecasting TV channels such as Aastha, Arihant and Vedic.
He said that the government has been demanding Rs 1 lakh from them, following which he asked the government to not impose taxes on sadhus and saints.
"You are religious people, you love your country, you follow religion but we hope to get free from it, because then if people want to hear or see any baba's discourse live, baba would have to give one Lakh Rupees per day from his own pocket. A baba can't afford so much of money. The government wants Rs. 32 crore in total to show all the channels like Aastha and Vedic," said the Patanjali founder.
The spiritual leader added that it would be "really shameful" if such devotional entities have to give money in the name of faith.
"I never expected such kind of behaviour from this government," Ramdev told news agency ANI.
Ramdev was speaking at an event to mark the launch of 'Aastha' mobile app in New Delhi.
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