Yoga not part of any religion: Kerala CM; Nitish skips event in Bihar

As millions of yoga enthusiasts stretched and twisted their bodies today, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said yoga should not be seen as part of any religious practice while key BJP ally and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar skipped the International Yoga Day event yet again.

Speaking at the state-level celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan, a CPI-M veteran, however lauded the greatness and benefits of yoga.

Yoga can be practised by all, irrespective of caste and religion, he said, adding it should be done with a 'free and secular' mind. Vijayan said the LDF government has taken steps to set up a yoga and naturopathy centre of international standards in the state.

Stating that yoga was an exercise and not part of any ritual, Vijayan lamented that attempts were being made by some groups to "hijack" it in the name of religion.

"This kind of false propaganda will only keep common people away from yoga and reduce its popularity," he said.

Terming yoga as a 'good exercise' for the body and mind, the chief minister said, "though there may be many other forms of exercises in the world, there is nothing as good as yoga especially for the mental health and well-being."
The JD(U) said Kumar has been practising yoga daily even before it was declared as an International Day by the United Nations in 2015 and "it would be wrong to attach any political meaning to personal decisions."
Sushil Modi on his part asked, "why do you want to make an issue out of Nitish Kumar's absence?"
"There are many BJP leaders who could not make it to the function. There may be many leaders, not just in JD(U) but even in opposition parties like the RJD, who practice yoga regularly. Would you try to derive a political meaning out of that?