External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday that 191 countries will celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21 and that the participation will be doubled this year.
"Among 193 member countries of United Nations, 191 will be celebrating Yoga Day this year. Only Libya and Yemen are not celebrating it as you know what is the condition of these two countries," she told reporters at a press conference on achievements of the NDA government on foreign front in its first two years.
She also said that particiaption on Yoga Day will be doubled this year and is being celebrated more in foreign countries compared to India.
Sushma Swaraj said that she was to visit Poland to particiapate in Yoga Day celebrations but due to health reasons she cancelled her visit.
She noted that India played a lead role in declaration of June 21 as International Yoga Day with 177 countries voting in favour.
The proposal in this regard was mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first address to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015.
--IANS
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