Madhya Pradesh School Education Minister Paras Jain has stirred up a controversy by saying minorities should also offer Surya Namaskar.
As per reports, Jain said Namaz, a Muslim prayer, was also a form of Surya Namaskar.
His remarks came ahead of a mass Surya Namaskar event in the state today.
Jain, however, reportedly clarified that unwilling students had the choice not to take part in the event.
The state government of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been organising mass Surya Namaskar events since 2007.