Union minister 'advises' Nitish Kumar to practice 'pranayam'

A day after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asked BJP president Amit Shah to practice yoga for fitness, Telecom and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday advised Nitish to instead practice 'pranayam' for peace of mind.

"Yoga is good for a healthy body and mind; the practice of 'pranayam' is must for a peaceful mind. Nitish Kumar should practice it," Prasad, the BJP's Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar, told the media here.

Leader of Opposition in Bihar assembly Nand Kishore Yadav too targeted Nitish Kumar on the issue.

"Nitish Kumar is a worried man and full of stress, as his statement has proved," the BJP leader said.

The Bihar chief minister said on Saturday that he had been informed that Shah would attend International Yoga Day event on June 21 in Patna.

"Has he seen his body? Is it suitable for performing Yoga? He should practise Yoga silently at home everyday to stay fit. This will bring internal change in him too," the Janata Dal-United leader said.

Nitish Kumar also targeted the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that they had made Yoga a matter of "show-off and publicity".

He termed the BJP's move to hold Yoga camp on June 21 a "drama".