Baba Ramdev has reacted after SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said that "many kathavachaks charge ₹50 lakh for an event", adding "Can anyone afford Dhirendra Shastri (Bageshwar Baba) for katha?" Calling it "useless", Ramdev said people can listen to Shastri's kathas for free on YouTube. He added, "If Bageshwar katha is too expensive, listen to me. I can narrate every story."