'Yoga does not belong to any political party': Lekhi

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Meenakshi Lekhi on Sunday said one should not give political colour to yoga as it belongs to Indian culture and tradition.

"Yoga belongs to Indian culture, Indian tradition and it is the heart of our well-being. So, the science which evolved thousands of years ago which was studied and practised and lived by the principles 'yum yum' (chants), meditation and the 'asanas'(posture) created an atmosphere of general well-being. So, it was health without medicine and a correlation between your existence in spiritual terms and your physical being," said Lekhi.

"Until and unless you are peaceful within, you can't seek peace outside. Peace outside can only be arrived once people have arrived temperament for peace and aggression towards performing the right things. This kind of balancing and various forms of yoga which our ancestors evolved is knowledge and that knowledge is beyond caste, colour, religion and nationality and (at the) end of the day it gives India a big name and it places India on a pedestal," she added.

The BJP leader's remark came as the nation is geared up to celebrate the International Yoga Day on June 21.

The Delhi Police has issued a traffic advisory detailing diversion of vehicular movement on Rajpath and other roads leading to it, in view of the International Yoga Day demonstration.

Apart from the mega event planned at the Rajpath, yoga will also be performed in 650 districts across the country.

The government's plan over the inclusion of certain 'asanas' and 'shlokas' has, however, drawn sharp criticism and outraged the minority community in the country.