Navjot Kaur Sidhu, a politician and wife of former cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, found herself at the center of a controversy after a video of her comments went viral on January 31. In the clip, she talked about her journey to health and said that along with allopathic treatment, dietary changes and consumption of cow urine, she played the role of agomutra.
Sidhu was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer a few years ago and has since spoken publicly about her treatment and recovery.
The video was widely shared on social media, prompting strong reactions from doctors and health professionals. Several medical experts dismissed the cow urine claims as unscientific and warned that such anecdotal claims could be harmful if patients take them seriously.
The video was posted on Instagram by religious preacher Acharya Aniruddhacharya. In it, Sidhu can be seen agreeing as she recounts her cancer journey, mentioning that she continued to regularly consume cow urine and even bathed in it during her illness.
Sidhu issues a clarification after the reaction
After criticism and concerns about possible medical misinformation, Sidhu responded on February 3 via a post on X (formerly Twitter). She emphasized that she does not support the rejection of modern medicine for the treatment of cancer.
“Please watch the full video. Allopathic treatment is the only cure for cancer,” she wrote. “It was just one second of a half-hour discussion about supportive therapies. Treatment should always be inclusive. Without lifestyle and dietary changes, healing becomes more difficult. However, primary treatment must always be decided by an oncologist. Half-knowledge is dangerous.”
Sidhu also shared a detailed explanation on Instagram, stressing that standard medical treatment saved her life.
“Only allopathic treatment by a cancer specialist can save a cancer patient,” she wrote. “Alternative treatments such as lifestyle changes, organic foods and other supportive therapies will never cure cancer by themselves. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation have saved my life. Diet and lifestyle changes have helped me recover faster and prevent recurrence.”
She also thanked her oncologist, Dr. Rupinder Batra, for guiding her treatment.
Doctors warn against false hopes
Responding to the controversy, Dr Shishir Shetty, director of surgical oncology at Fortis Hiranandani Hospital in Navi Mumbai, called the claims “scientifically incorrect and potentially dangerous”.
Speaking to HT Lifestyle, Dr Shetty said such stories can mislead patients. “They can create false hope and can make people delay or abandon proven treatments, which can be fatal,” he said.
He added that while some patients may choose to follow traditional practices alongside medical care, public figures must be extremely cautious when sharing personal experiences online.
“People battling cancer are often vulnerable and looking for miracles. Influential voices should avoid presenting unproven drugs in a way that could be misunderstood,” said Dr Shetty.
