District schools unclear over compulsory drill
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Vijayawada: Schools in Krishna district are yet to receive any orders from Central and state governments regarding the proposed compulsory yoga drill to mark the International Yoga Day on June 21.
International Yoga Day will be celebrated on June 21 with the support from 177 countries and government is organising the event across India. Schools across the country were asked to ensure that Yoga Day is observed without fail and every student participates in the exercise.
However, schools in Krishna district have not received any official orders from the government to observe the Day. PM Narendra Modi is slated to take part in a mass yoga programme in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, members of the Muslim community are up in arms against the mandatory rule and say that forcing all students to perform yoga is undemocratic as every person has the right to choose the activity they wish to do to keep their body and mind fit.
“Performing Namaz five times a day is a better exercise for heart and body than Yoga. However, one cannot ask all students in school to perform Namaz. Same goes with Yoga, it should be optional,” said Md Altaf Raza, AP Muslim Development Union general secretary. “Eight parts of the body touch the ground while performing Namaz,” he pointed out.
“The government can also choose any of the sports and games and make it mandatory instead of yoga. Imposing one's own interests on the nation is not right on part of government. We are not opposing yoga but we are opposing the attitude of government which has made it mandatory,” said Habeeb-ur-Rehman, president of Muslim United Front, AP. Vijayawada deputy DEO K. Ravi Kumar said that no orders regarding observing Yoga day have been issued yet.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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