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BJP govt to go ahead with 'surya namaskar'

The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh seems to be going ahead with the mass yoga programme on 'surya namaskar', expected to be attended by over three lakh school children.

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BHOPAL: Ignoring protests, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh seems to be going ahead with the mass yoga programme on 'surya namaskar', expected to be attended by over three lakh school children.

Elaborate preparations have been made for the surya namaskar and pranayam programme, planned at the school, district and state levels on January 25, as announced by State Ministers (Health) Ajay Vishnoi and (School Education) Narottam Mishra last month, official sources said on Tuesday.

The event will be monitored by special committees formed by District Collectors, they said, adding every state minister has been asked to attend the programme in different districts.

The main programme scheduled here will be led by yoga guru Baba Ramdev and telecast and aired across the state, sources said. Citizens, private organisations and educational institutes have been invited to attend it.

Two teachers were trained in every block to conduct the programme.

Describing the move as 'unconstitutional', a 11-member committee, constituted at a meeting of important Muslim bodies called by state unit of All India Muslim personal Law Board (AIMPLB), had sought Governor Balram Jakhar's intervention in preventing the programme.

Jamiat Ulma Hind had also approached the MP High Court seeking a stay on the event.

"Though we don't have objections to any kind of yogic exercise. It is unconstitutional to force students of all religions to recite religious verses during surya namaskar - which we believe is worship of sun and against Islam," Jamiat Ulma Hind Executive Member Haji Mohd Haroon said.

"Booklets carrying 'shlokas' have also been circulated among the schools for recitation," the Muslim representatives said, claiming to have garnered support of their Christian counterparts against it.

The BJP government in the state was attempting to 'incite religious passion under the garb of yoga' among school children, Catholic Church of Madhya Pradesh spokesman Anand Muttungal said.

"Their (BJP's) intention is doubtful. Though Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has claimed that participation in the programme was voluntary, schools are being compelled to attend it," he said.

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