Close X
Thursday, November 28, 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

    Jayalalithaa Becomes Tamil Nadu CM For Fifth Time

    AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the fifth time on Saturday, within a fortnight of the Karnataka High Court acquitting her in a corruption case.

    Jayalalithaa Becomes Tamil Nadu CM For Fifth Time

    Delhi Assembly Special Session Over Centre's Notification On Powers

    Delhi Assembly Special Session Over Centre's Notification On Powers
    The Delhi government has announced a special two-day session of the legislative assembly starting May 26 to discuss the response to the union home ministry notification that curbs its various powers.

    Delhi Assembly Special Session Over Centre's Notification On Powers

    NDA Graft-free Government, Boosting Cooperative Federalism: Arun Jaitley

    With one year of transparent, graft-free and decisive governance under the NDA, global business confidence in India is on the upswing and the economy poised to go on to a higher growth path, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Thursday.

    NDA Graft-free Government, Boosting Cooperative Federalism: Arun Jaitley

    Jayalalithaa To Be Sworn In As Cm For Fifth Time On Saturday

    AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa will be sworn-in as chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the fifth time on Saturday, within less than a fortnight of the Karnataka High Court upholding her appeal and acquitting her in a corruption case.

    Jayalalithaa To Be Sworn In As Cm For Fifth Time On Saturday

    Video: Muslim Management Graduate Denied Job On Religious Grounds In Mumbai

    Video: Muslim Management Graduate Denied Job On Religious Grounds In Mumbai
    A management graduate here on Thursday lodged a police complaint accusing a leading diamond export firm of "religious discrimination" and refusing him a job because he was a Muslim.

    Video: Muslim Management Graduate Denied Job On Religious Grounds In Mumbai

    US Ambassador Richard R. Verma Walks Down Memory Lane In Punjab

    US Ambassador Richard R. Verma Walks Down Memory Lane In Punjab
    It was a trip down memory lane for US Ambassador Richard R. Verma, whose visit to his maternal grandmother's house in Punjab turned emotional on Thursday.

    US Ambassador Richard R. Verma Walks Down Memory Lane In Punjab