BJP welcomes UN decision to observe International Yoga Day

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Friday welcomed the decision of the United Nations (UN) to observe June 21 as International Yoga Day and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for spearheading the initiative.

Shah said the UN's decision to observe International Yoga Day is a compliment to India's culture and knowledge of Yoga.

"We welcome the decision of the UN that June 21 will be observed as International Yoga Day. It is a big achievement for our nation's culture and our knowledge of yoga," Shah told ANI here.

"Prime Minister's initiative will benefit the entire world, whoever has practiced yoga has become healthier mentally, physically and spiritually. I would like to congratulate both Prime Minister Modi and the UN for this," he added.

The 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted and declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

The idea for declaring an International Day of Yoga at the United Nations was formally proposed by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visited New York for this year's UNGA.

The main significance of the UN declaring an International Day is to focus the attention of the international community on the topic of the day, and to encourage activities among the member states of the United Nations to commemorate the day.