Prime Minister Narendra Modi is gearing up to mark BJP’s government’s major drive, International Yoga Day, on June 21.
The event will be the biggest highlight this year at Rajpath where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to be present.
However, it is not yet clear whether the Prime Minister will himself be performing yoga during the programme or not.
The UN General Assembly had in December last year adopted an India-led resolution, supported by over 175 UN member-states, declaring June 21 as ‘International Day of Yoga’, recognising that “Yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being”.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that the day will be observed in over 250 cities in 190 countries across the world. “Our missions and diplomatic posts have made arrangements for the celebrations and other related events,” Swarup said.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, along with Naik, will be launching a special portal for the ‘International Yoga Day’ on June 9.
However, the opposition is not happy. Congress took the sheen out of the Modi government’s plans to observe the first International Yoga Day on June 21 with grandiose, alleging that it was just a “photo op”.
To drive home the point, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said after the new government took over, the Ayush Ministry as well as several yoga institutions under it have spent only a minuscule amount allocated to them.
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi directed his fire on Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of hopping from scheme to scheme and the focus on the yoga event later this month.
“When the talk of Swachchata is over, now he is saying that go and do yoga at the Rajpath. There is no word about employment. Every day something new is said. All these new things are being said to cover up the unfulfilled promises,” Gandhi said.
Meanwhile, several Muslim outfits have demanded against the preparations ahead of Yoga Day. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi today alleged that Maharashtra government, which has decided to celebrate the International Yoga day in educational institutes on June 21, was forcing the Muslims to take part in something that is prohibited in Islam.
Muslim Board has also stated that it is against Islam to salute the sun
According to council member Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, “The practice goes against Islam; the board has decided to constitute a committee, headed by Maulana Wali Rahmani for the purpose.”
“It is against Islam to salute the sun,” added another board member Kamaal Farooqui.
Several state governments have prepared a detailed plan to celebrate World Yoga Day on a
grand scale across the country on June 21, a Sunday. Many states including Gujarat, Punjab, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal etc.
Close to 11 lakh NCC cadets are expected to perform common yoga protocol across the country on ‘International Yoga Day’ on June 21 while 5,000 members of the armed police forces will participate at the mega event being organised at Rajpath.
Several ethnic groups, yoga studios and corporates are among the nearly 70 organisations that have joined hands with a prominent Indian-American community outfit that is organising events across 100 US cities to mark the first International Day of Yoga this month.
PTI