India’s most popular ‘Godman’ and yoga guru Baba Ramdev is taing aim at multinational corporations urging millions of his followers to reject their products labelling them “dangerous”.

The call come amidst India’s national day celebration even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is promoting urging multinationals to 'Make in India' and actively seeking foreign investments, including from Caada.

Multinational corporations in India are terming the Godman’s campaign a marketing gimmick, but they can't entirely ignore it either, as Ramdev's consumer products empire is rapidly growing and challenging their bottom lines.

At stake is a piece of India’s $40 billion processed food industry, growing annually at 11 percent per year. Stakeholders hope the government will eventually crack down on the "misleading" advertisements of the Baba Ramdev-led Patanjali group, whose top brass is considered close to the Modi government.

The bearded 50-year-old yoga guru who heads the multi-billion dollar Patanjali group, which he set up in 2006, sells everything from shampoo and toothpaste to biscuits and noodles, and rice and wheat to honey and ghee.

In an ad by Patanjali, Baba Ramdev is himself leading the charge against foreign companies.

"Hair oils have cancer-causing mineral oils, biscuits and noodles have refined flour, drinks have cold drink (aerated drinks) and liquor, food items are adulterated, cosmetics have chemicals. These products, and foreign companies, are dangerous for us and our country," he says.

"Since they take the country's wealth outside and don't do any charity work here, the alternative is Patanjali's pure and home-produced campaign, the main aim of which is charity and patriotism. Adopt Patanjali and give economic freedom to our country."

A member of the Canada-India Business Council said Baba Ramdev’s message could seriously harm Canadian companies in India.

“He has millions of followers in India and around the world and his word to many of them is gospel,” he said.

said Sagar Kurade, President, All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA), reacting to the advertisements said : "This country has a policy in place where any multinational company is free to invest in the food processing sector and any domestic company is free to grow, considering the rules and regulations associated with the sector are adhered to.”

Baba Ramdev’s advertising campaign comes close on the heels of India relaxing its foreign equity norms to allow 100 per cent investment in trading of food products that's manufactured or produced in India, including sales through e-commerce, to cut wastage, check price rise and help farmers.

"Baba Ramdev is now a business professional like any other…This is just a marketing gimmick and nothing else," said Amit Dhanuka, CEO of Kejriwal Bee Care India.

"There has already been a complaint against him (Baba Ramdev) the way he has been advertising and it is just a matter of time before the government will become harsh on him. This is something which is momentary and with time people will understand and all the image he has built will wane."

Patanjali spokesperson S.K. Tijarawala defended the campaign. "Modi is the head of the government and free to keep the government's view. I don't think there's any bar on trading and dealing with Indians," he said, alluding that allowing foreign equity does not bar the domestic industry.

Without going into the specifics of any issue, Patanjali's Tijarawala said there was a need for an institution that trades in home-grown products and uses the profits for the development of the country.

"They (foreign companies) are taking the profits with them and that is of no use for India. Our country will strengthen only when we promote trade in the country by promoting and manufacturing of swadeshi (home-grown) goods. This will also generate employment," he said.

Asked if this did not go against the government's policies, Tijarawala said: "We don't have any differences with the government. Let them bring FDI. Let them push 'Make in India'. That's their job. Our job is to strengthen our people by providing opportunities. Where is the controversy?"

Baba Ramdev to visit Canada

Yoga guru Ramdev will participate in the annual 70th Independence Day Parade to be held in New York this month and hold yoga camps in the US city of Houston and in Toronto.

Ramdev has been invited by the Federation of Indian Association (FIA) to be the guest of honour for their Independence Day Parade in New York on August 21, a media release said.

As part of his North American tour, he will also visit Ontario on August 19 and 20 and Houston on August 23 to address yoga instructors and yoga practitioners on Vedic Holistic Living.