Self-styled social media evangelist for naturopathy Jacob Vadakkanchery, who was released from the Poojappura Central Prison on Thursday, has vowed to continue with his campaign against modern medicine.
Mr. Vadakkanchery had been arrested by the Crime Branch from Thripunithura on September 8 for allegedly impeding the Health Department’s efforts to contain the leptospirosis outbreak and creating panic on the use of doxycycline, the prophylactic that was being distributed to treat the disease.
Emerging after being released on bail, Mr. Vadakkanchery claimed that the jail term had strengthened his resolve to further his movement. “I walk with my head high and am confident that I will be able to stand by the trust come what may. Despite the criticisms that were being raised against me, time has proved my views to be true,’’ he said.
‘‘We have been campaigning against an American multinational company which manufactured baby products for the last 10 years. The firm currently faced a barrage of lawsuits. Our claims that the drugs against cholesterol were more harmful than the ailment itself have been vindicated by the dietary guidelines that were issued in 2016. Pharmaceutical companies have strived to make patients out of each one of us for furthering their businesses. Many medicines that had been earlier touted to be safe were gradually proved to be harmful for human health,” he alleged.
Lashing out at the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Mr. Vadakkanchery challenged the organisation to prove his theories wrong.
He was accorded reception at the prison gates by a group of social activists, including L. Pankajakshan, Bismilla Kadakkal, B.S. Bhadran and Sadanandan Mezhuveli, among others. Later, they marched to the Martyrs’ Column at Palayam.