Thiruvanathapuram: Health Minister K K Shylaja termed the controversy related to her remarks regarding recital of prayer at the International Yoga Day as “needless.” In her Facebook post, the minister termed the controversy as needless.
“Yoga is not being practices as a religious ritual. The reports suggesting that I sought an explanation from officials in connection with the recital religious prayer at the International Yoga Day function was only media creation. I had only stated that during the international yoga day, recital of a prayer of particular religion was wrong. They could have recited a prayer which is acceptable to all. Rabindranath Tagore’s poems are of this nature. Yoga does not belong to a particular religion. The secular nature of Yoga should be preserved. Believers and non believers live in this country and they have the right to pray to their Gods. This is all I said during the inaugural speech. It is wrong to say that I called for an inquiry into the recital of prayer, ” Ms. Shylaja added.
World "Samghaacchadhvam” in prayer irritated the minister: Many believe that the words "Samghacchadhvam" could have created the confusion. She perhaps thought the prayer was connected to Sangh Parivar. Those close to her say, the minister cannot be blamed since the BJP led Centre was making all efforts to appropriate the yoga show.
Last year the Centre had introduced Surya namaskar and chanting of "Om". Both were dropped this time following protests from various quarters. While the organisers said the prayer only spoke about harmony, unison, equanimous mind and divinity, the Left supporters believe that prayers which are more inclusive, should be used on such occasions.
