Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has advised BJP president Amit Shah to practice yoga regularly rather than do politics over it.
Mr Kumar told reporters, “Has he seen his body whether it is suitable to do yoga? He should practise yoga silently at home everyday to stay fit. This will bring internal change in him too.”
BJP has been pushing for more participation from schools and educational institutions on International Yoga Day on June 21. Some Muslim groups like the Muslim Personal Law Board had opposed the central government’s move to make it compulsory in schools, saying that yoga asanas like Surya Namaskar are un-Islamic. The government had denied issuing any such directions.
Mr Kumar who practices yoga regularly said, “Yoga is very useful and should be practised sincerely at home for good health. But BJP is indulging in show off in the name of yoga which is triggering dispute.”
Mr Shah will take part in yoga day celebrations in Patna on June 21.
Assembly elections in Bihar are due in a few months at the end of this year. Mr Shah held discussions with union minister Ram Vilas Paswan in Delhi today, to take stock of the political situation.
BJP announced a tie up with former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi this Thursday; Mr Manjhi and Mr Kumar were once friends, but now bitter political rivals.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising of BJP, Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samata Party had swept the 2014 general elections winning 31 out of 40 seats in the state.
Mr Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and former chief minister Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal have already announced a tie-up between the two and Congress for the upcoming assembly elections.
(With inputs from Press Trust of India)
