With World International Yoga Day just a day ahead, the BJP led government and authorities are working overtime to ensure everything is in place, at the same time its minority wing in UP has refused to participate in yoga camps on June 21 citing the holy month of Ramzan that begins from today.
Kanpur president of BJP’s minority wing, Raees Ahmed, too said workers in his unit have refused to participate in the camps, citing Ramzan.
“District presidents and workers are saying that practicing yoga in the current weather will lead to sweating and increase their thirst. It may disturb their fast,” said Rumana, who has rejected the party’s invitation to take part in the yoga camp in Delhi. “neither force anyone to practice yoga nor will she stop anyone from practicing it”, she added.
Rumana state president of UP BJP Minority Morcha, will attend the camp being held at KD Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow, just only to mark her attendance as Home Minister will be present there.
“This is a genuine problem because the duration of Roza in the current season is almost 16 hours. Normally, we have Sehri early morning, then we offer namaaz and then recite holy Quran. “We cant do yoga as it may increase our thirst and hunger,” he added.
Raees, who himself will not attend the camp to be held in Kanpur, said he has no right to force workers.. “If Yoga Day was held in the winters, I am sure a large number of Muslims would have taken part,” he added
When contacted, BJP minority wing national president Abdul Rasheed Ansari said he is yet to receive information that workers will not take part in yoga camps. But he apprehends that enthusiasm among Muslim workers for the event could be less because of Ramzan.