New Delhi: A day ahead of International Yoga Day, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday congratulated Shamshad Haidar of Pakistan for teaching various yoga 'asanas' to around 10,000 people in Islamabad.
“I congratulate Shamshad Haidar of Pakistan who has taught Yoga to 10,000 people in Islamabad,” Rajnath told reporters here.
Crediting India for originating yoga and gifting it to the world, Rajnath said, “The biggest gift India has given to the world is Yoga. We are proud tomorrow (June 21) is International Yoga Day.”
Further criticising those who are opposing yoga on the name of religion, Rajnath added, “ Yoga connect religions, does not create rifts (Yoga dharm se dharm ko alag nahi karta hai, Yoga dharm se dharm ko jodta hai).”
Meanwhile, a Muslim Cleris, Mufti Shamoon Qasmi came out in support of yoga, saying it stands for brotherhood and health.
“Opposition to Yoga is only by some politicians or by people who are ill informed,Yoga stands for brotherhood,” ANI quoted Qasmi as saying.
He further said, “I will be there at Rajpath to do Yoga tomorrow. Yoga is for health.”
Even as over 47 Muslim-majority countries have supported the International Day of Yoga, some Indian communities, including sections of Muslims, are opposing it.
According to a few sections of Muslims, while doing yoga, one needs to do 'surya namaskar', which implies praying to the sun, against their religion.
However, in first of its kind, about 200 crore people across the globe are expected to participate in the inaugural first day function of International Yoga Day tomorrow.
The United Nations had in December last year declared June 21 as International Yoga Day. The proposal had been mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first address to the UN General Assembly in September last year.
