Magsaysay award-winning environmentalist Rajendra Singh, known as the “Waterman of India,” has strongly criticized Jaggi Vasudev (Sadhguru), calling him a “fraud baba.” Speaking at a seminar on the Right to Water Act in Bhopal, Singh questioned Vasudev’s credibility and demanded an investigation into government funds given to him, questioning their utilization.
Singh mocked Vasudev’s Rally for Rivers initiative, dismissing it as ineffective and performative, saying, “Are rivers rejuvenated by giving missed calls?” He further accused Vasudev of usurping land meant for farmers under the Bhudan scheme and even alleged that Vasudev was involved in his wife’s death.
Singh criticized self-styled spiritual leaders who prioritize publicity over real solutions, stating that genuine river conservation requires community involvement, not theatrics.
In response, Vasudev’s Isha Foundation condemned Singh’s statements, calling them “blatant untruths, slurs, and allegations.” The foundation denied receiving government funds for river rejuvenation projects in Madhya Pradesh and refuted claims of advocating river linking. It dismissed Singh’s comments as either a “lack of balance of mind” or an attempt to gain fame.
