MCGM regularises Yoga, Suryanamaskar

Opposition parties strongly opposed the decision

After a prolonged discussion on the necessity of Yoga for students in civic schools, the civic body’s general body meeting on Tuesday decided to regularise Yoga and Suryanamaskar in all schools. However, the Samajwadi Party (SP) along with the opposition parties strongly opposed the decision.

Samita Kamble, BJP corporator from Mulund, had moved the proposal a fortnight ago, saying Yoga and Suryanamaskar would help students of the 1,285 civic schools maintain fitness.

Moreover, 400 out of the 1285 civic schools are Urdu medium schools where the exercise will be mandatory. While the Shiv Sena chose to keep mum about their stand on the proposal, the discussion in the civic meet led to a heated argument between the SP and the BJP corporators.

However, the prolonged discussion boiled down to regularising yoga in all the civic schools. Unhappy with the decision, the opposition parties walked off the general body meeting.

Citing the decision Rais Shaikh, SP leader in the civic body, said, “We strongly oppose the decision to regularise Suryanamaskar and make it mandatory for all the students from all the religions. We are not opposing the exercise but the decision of regularizing it for all students won’t be tolerated.”

Sandeep Deshpande, MNS leader in the MCGM, said, “The BJP is trying to force their decisions on the citizens, first on food and now its yoga. We have clearly opposed the idea of imposing irregular things on the citizens and not particularly Yoga or Suryanamaskar.”