Yoga controversy: Take Allah’s name in place of shlokas

New Delhi: After dropping 'surya namaskar' from the official yoga programme to "avoid controversy", the government said chanting 'shlokas' during 'International Yoga Day' was not "compulsory" and appealed to Muslims to participate in the event. Shripad Naik, Minister for AYUSH, the coordinating ministry for the event at Rajpath on June 21, said Muslims can "take the name of Allah instead of reciting 'shlokas'" during the event.

While some minority groups have objected to the holding of the event by government, especially inclusion of Surya namskar, representatives of some Muslim organisations who met Naik today said those opposing yoga were "enemies of humanity" and yoga has nothing to do with religion.

Meanwhile, reacting on the recent comments by BJP MP Yogi Adityanath on Yoga, UP minister Azam Khan on Thursday said that the saffron leader should "offer namaz to set his mind on the right track". "Although my advice to Yogi about namaz might not be correct but since he wants to use force to adopt any exercise, I am forced to express my opinion. He should rather offer namaz (prayers) that would not only give him physical strength but also put his mind on the right track," he told media.

The SP leader was referring to the firebrand leader's comments that those opposing 'Surya namaskar' should "drown in the sea". Khan maintained that Surya Namaskarwas a religious exercise that should not be forced upon others.

"As far as religious practices and traditions related to a particular community are concerned one should not be compelled to adopt those," Khan said.