'Would BJP Be Happy If...': Political Parties In J&K Slam Govt's 'Surya Namaskar' Order

This is for the first time that students in Kashmir region have been asked to participate in surya namaskar.

The drive is part of the government's Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations (Getty Images)

New Delhi: A row has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir over an order by the administration directing colleges to organise 'surya namaskar' events on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

The drive is part of the government's Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and the Ayush Ministry had said 75 lakh people will perform surya namaskar on Makar Sankranti.

This is for the first time that students in Kashmir region have been asked to participate in surya namaskar.

Why should Muslim students be forced to do anything, including yoga, to celebrate Makar Sankranti?Makar Sankranti is a festival & to celebrate it or not must be a personal choice. Would the BJP be happy if a similar order was issued to order non-Muslim students to celebrate Eid? https://t.co/n6luhwSm1J

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) January 13, 2022

"To mark the holy occasion of Makar Sankranti on 14th January 2022, Government of India has desired that on the occasion a large scale virtual Surya Namaskar be organised under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations,'' an order by Director Colleges, J&K Higher education department, said.

"Kindly ensure that all faculty members and students actively participate in this program,'' the order said.

Reacting to the J&K administration's order, former chief minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said celebrating Makar Sankranti must be a personal choice.

"Why should Muslim students be forced to do anything, including yoga, to celebrate Makar Sankranti? Makar Sankranti is a festival & to celebrate it or not must be a personal choice. Would the BJP be happy if a similar order was issued to order non-Muslim students to celebrate Eid?" Abdullah tweeted.

GOIs PR misadventures aim to demean & collectively humiliate Kashmiris.Forcing students & staff to perform suryanamaskars by issuing orders despite their obvious discomfort with imposition of something laden with religious connotations gives an insight into their communal mindset https://t.co/tgk9xidZz0

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) January 13, 2022

PDP president and former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti said the Centre's misadventures aim to collectively humiliate Kashmiris.

"Forcing students and staff to perform surya namaskars by issuing orders despite their obvious discomfort with imposition of something laden with religious connotations gives an insight into their communal mindset," Mufti tweeted.

Peoples Conference (PC) president Sajad Gani Lone came down heavily on the Centre, saying the administration was undoing what liberal Muslims had earned.

"Why is the govt so insensitive. Now comes the surya namaskar episode. I wish the govt of the day understands that along many bloody battles fought in Kashmir -- of immense importance was the war between liberal and radicals," Lone tweeted.

"And these were not verbose battles. The blood of the Kashmir liberal Muslim was spilled on the streets. The liberals fought to keep the secular liberal traditions of Kashmir alive. They fought the violence. They fought the bullets. The liberals rendered sacrifices," he said.

"We have seen the brute power of the radicals all through nineties. U will not succeed. The will of the people will eventually prevail," he further said.