Yoga not linked with any religion, says Rajnath

LUCKNOW: Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said yoga was not associated with any religion and most of the Islamic countries voted in favour of the United Nations resolution four years ago to proclaim June 21 as International Yoga Day.

Speaking at an event at Raj Bhawan here to mark the 4th International Yoga Day, Singh said: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured international acceptance to yoga. Presently, 192 countries are observing International Yoga Day.”

Besides Singh, chief minister Yogi Adityanath, governor Ram Naik and Lucknow mayor Sanyukta Bhatia led the yoga day event.

Speaking about the controversies that broke out when the UN passed the International Yoga Day resolution in 2014, Singh said: “Earlier, some people used to associate yoga with a particular religion. But today it is accepted all over the world. At the United Nations, 46 Islamic countries had voted in favour of the resolution proclaiming June 21 as International Yoga Day.”

He also spoke about Saudi yoga trainer Nouf Marwaai who has been awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, by the Modi government.

Singh said yoga played a major role in catapulting India to the platform of cultural diplomacy at the international stage.

Governor Ram Naik said yoga was India’s biggest gift to the world.

“It (yoga) is the cheapest exercise that can be performed anywhere,” said Naik, attributing his fitness at the age of 84 to yoga. “I have been performing ‘surya namaskar’ (a yogic exercise) since my school days. This has helped me remain healthy,” Naik said.

CM Yogi Adityanath said Prime Minister Narendra Modi got international recognition to yoga. “Today, 192 countries are observing International Yoga Day.” Adityanath is a follower of Nath sect the followers of which are master of Hath yoga, a form of yoga.

“Regular practice of yoga makes one healthy and reduces medical expenses,” Yogi said. Senior bureaucrats, members of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and differently-abled people also performed yoga on the occasion.

Chief secretary Rajive Kumar led the bureaucratic circle during the event.