Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
India

Chant 'Allah' If Not 'Om': Minister Tells Muslim Leaders

Darpan News Desk IANS, 11 Jun, 2015 11:14 AM

    Ayush Minister Shripad Yesso Naik on Thursday appealed to the Muslim community to participate in the International Yoga Day in a big way and said people who do not want to chant 'Om' can say 'Allah'.

    Naik told IANS after his meeting with a delegation of Muslim leaders on Thursday that they have extended full support to the Yoga Day to be observed on June 21.
     
    "I met the Muslim delegation today to discuss about the Yoga Day. They have extended full support to the cause and will join us on the Yoga Day. Our motive is to unite people for a better world," Naik said.
     
    He said the government took 'surya namaskar' out of the Yoga Day activities as it can be a tough yoga posture.
     
    Naik said people with spondylitis and other medical issues will not be able to do it as well.
     
    "We do not want any controversy or opposition over this surya namaskar. If people do not want to chant 'Om', they can say 'Allah'," Naik told IANS.
     
    He said yoga was for the well-being of all and has nothing to do with any particular religion.
     
    During his interaction with the Muslim leaders, Naik said there was no compulsion on anyone to practise yoga, but it was good for the body and soul.
     
    He said people should make it a part of their lives and contribute in the celebrations of the International Yoga Day on June 21.
     
    The Muslim leaders, who included Majlis Ulema e Hind (Uttar Pradesh) president Maulana Syed Kaukab Mujtaba Abidi, and Daudi Bohra community representative Abbas Ali Bohra, applauded the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Yoga Day.
     
    The leaders said namaz too has yogic postures.
     
    Bohra said that out of the 177 countries which have expressed their desire to participate in yoga sessions on the International Yoga Day, 47 were from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
     
    These countries have expressed desire to participate in yoga sessions being organised in the Indian missions, he said. "We as Indians should support Yoga Day as it is on the initiative of India."
     
    Some minority groups had objected to the inclusion of surya namaskar in the programme.
     
    The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) had said it will launch a campaign against any move by the union government's move to make yoga and 'surya namaskar' compulsory in schools.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Smriti Irani Implementing RSS Agenda: Congress

    Smriti Irani Implementing RSS Agenda: Congress
    The Congress on Sunday accused Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani of playing with the country's future by implementing the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

    Smriti Irani Implementing RSS Agenda: Congress

    Man Stabbed To Death In Delhi

    Man Stabbed To Death In Delhi
    A 40-year-old man was stabbed to death in the national capital, police said on Sunday. The incident took place in Nabi Karim area in central Delhi on Saturday.

    Man Stabbed To Death In Delhi

    Man Held With One Kg Heroin In Delhi

    Man Held With One Kg Heroin In Delhi
    A man working as a drug dealer for the past 20 years was arrested in Delhi on Sunday with one kg heroin, estimated at Rs.4 crore in the international market, police said.

    Man Held With One Kg Heroin In Delhi

    Return Of 'Feel Good Factor' For Indian Economy

    Return Of 'Feel Good Factor' For Indian Economy
    Recent reviews of global institutions and the prevailing investor confidence suggest a striking change in the perception about the Indian economy cover the past year. 

    Return Of 'Feel Good Factor' For Indian Economy

    Modi Government Allergic To Kejriwal: Manish Sisodia

    Modi Government Allergic To Kejriwal: Manish Sisodia
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is "allergic" to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Sunday.

    Modi Government Allergic To Kejriwal: Manish Sisodia

    People Retain Hope In Modi, But Time's Running Out

    People Retain Hope In Modi, But Time's Running Out
    The reason is, first, the realisation that one year is not a long enough to give a definitive judgment on the performance of a government, especially when it is emerging from the black hole of the failures of its predecessor.

    People Retain Hope In Modi, But Time's Running Out