Chanting shlokas was not compulsory at the International Yoga Day event
Union minister Shripad Naik
New Delhi: After dropping Surya Namaskar from the official yoga programme to “avoid controversy”, the government said on Thursday that chanting shlokas was not compulsory at the International Yoga Day event, and asked Muslims to take part in it in large numbers.
Shripad Naik, minister for Ayush, who is coordinating the Rajpath event on June 21, said Muslims can “take the name of Allah instead of reciting shlokas” on Yoga Day. Earlier, some minority groups had objected to holding of the event by the government, especially the inclusion of Surya Namskar.
However, some Muslim representatives, who met Mr Naik on Thursday, said those opposing yoga were “enemies of humanity” and that yoga had nothing to do with religion.
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said a committee that decided the common yoga protocol had not included Surya Namaskar as “they wanted easy asanas (exercise) in it which can be performed by anyone”.
Mr Naik said on Thursday: “We didn’t include Surya Namaskar to avoid controversy. Moreover, it is difficult to do. But Surya Namaskar is not religious.” He then added: “Shlokas are not compulsory. Shlokas are merely prayers, but it is not compulsory. They can even take the name of Allah instead of chanting shlokas. I request Muslims to participate and unite the country.”
Bishops object as yoga day is on sunday:
Catholic Bishops Conference of India, apex body of the Catholic priests in the country, on Thursday expressed displeasure over the government’s decision to organise Yoga Day on June 21, saying Sundays are “sacred day” for Christians.
CBCI president and Syro-Malankara Major Archbishop Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, however, said the Church was not against Yoga. Lamenting that “important events are being observed on Sundays these days”, the Cardinal said the Church will raise its concern before the authorities concerned.
Not opposed to yoga: Deoband
Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband has clarified that it is not opposed to Yoga as a form of exercise and said that it had not issued any fatwa banning Muslims form doing Yoga. The seminary said that it would be un-Islamic only if the exercise is accompanied by chanting of mantras.
( Source : deccan chronicle/pti )
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