Intl. Yoga Day shouldn't be linked with caste, belief or religion: Rajnath

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that celebration of International Yoga Day should be looked into as something that benefits physical and mental health, and advised those opposing it to not create a controversy over the matter.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi had put forth his views in this regard in the United Nations, and then it was accepted by the United Nations to observe Yoga Day....No one try to create controversy over this matter...It is not a compulsion, those who want to do should do but it is our request that look into it as something that benefits physical and mental health," Singh said while responding to a poser on All India Muslim Personal Law Board's (AIMPLB) decision to launch a campaign against any move to make 'Surya Namaskar' and yoga compulsory in schools.

Singh further said that the international community would not have decided to observe Yoga Day if it had anything to do with religion, castes or belief.

"I don't want to comment on what someone has said. As I have said before that it should not be linked with caste, belief or religion. If it was looked at from that angle then the international community would not have decided to observe June 21 as Yoga Day," he said.

The Surya Namaskar has reportedly not been included for the Yoga Day event in view of objections voiced by Muslim groups. AIMPLB has said that it was against their religious beliefs and should not be forced on their children.

The United Nations declared June 21 as International Day of Yoga last year.