There is a lot of fear factor — both political and within the community — which is preventing Muslims to join Yoga Day celebrations: Dilip Ghosh
The state BJP unit had been keen on stepping up on Muslim participation in the International Yoga Day and even as there had been a campaign for nearly a month now with members of the state minority cell of the party putting up several street corner meetings and campaigning on social media, a day ahead of the big day they said they did not expect more than 500 Muslims in Bengal to participate in the programme on Wednesday.
"We have asked Muslim BJP members across the state to join the Yoga Day celebrations closest to them but so far from what I have gathered, there would not be more than 500 who would join," Ali Hossain, president of the party's state minority morcha said on Tuesday. Asked about the expected low turnout, he said, "In the past only one or two people used to come. Compared to that we have come a long way."
State BJP president Dilip Ghosh attributed the low interest among Muslims, to fear. "There is a lot of fear factor – both political and within the community – which is preventing Muslims to join Yoga Day celebrations. We have thousands of Muslim members which is evident from rallies but as far as Muslims joining the Yoga Day celebration is concerned, they have been threatened by leaders of the ruling party and a fear of being ostracised within the community is also there," he said.
Party Minority Morcha convener Arshad Alam, however, said that it was the Maulanas and Muslim clerics who had spread the misconception about yoga among Muslims. "Who said that if I do yoga, or I say 'Jai Shree Ram', I will become a Hindu? Maulanas and Imams who have been spreading this theory have their own agenda and are responsible for this aversion for yoga among Muslims," Alam said.
Imams however, negated the theory of Alam. "What he said is not correct. We are always up for exercise. Our children go to school which have compulsory physical training classes. What we don't like is connecting yoga with religion. Why should Surya Namaskar be made compulsory in yoga? We respect all religion but we don't bow down to anyone but Allah. Surya Namaskar and other religious connotations hurt the sentiments of Muslims. If Surya Namaskar is excluded from yoga, I will participate in Yoga Day celebration," said Maulana Shafique Qasmi, imam of Nakhoda Masjid in Kolkata.
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