'There Was No India When Yoga Was Discovered': KP Sharma Oli Claims Yoga Originated In Nepal

In his address during a program held at his residence Baluwatar on the occasion of International Yoga Day, caretaker Prime Minister Oli said that Indian experts have been hiding facts. 

Kathmandu: While the whole world celebrated 7th International Yoga Day on Monday June 21, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has once again sparked a controversy with his claims that yoga originated in Nepal and not in India. 

In his address during a program held at his residence Baluwatar on the occasion of International Yoga Day, caretaker Prime Minister Oli said that Indian experts have been hiding facts. 

"At the time when Yoga came into existence, there was no existence of India; it was divided into factions. India that exists now wasn't there in the past. India at that time was divided into different factions. Divided into factions, India at that time was like a continent or sub-continent," Oli said, as reported by new agency ANI. 

This is not the first time that Oli has make controversial remarks against India. In July last year, Oli had claimed that Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, is in Nepal and Lord Rama was Nepali. 

At an event organised at Prime Minister's residence in Kathmandu, Oli had said, "Although real Ayodhya lies at Thori, a city in the west of Birgunj, India has claimed that Lord Rama was born there. Due to these continuous claims even we have believed that deity Sita got married to Prince Rama of India. However, in reality, Ayodhya is a village lying west of Birgunj." 

International Day of Yoga is celebrated annually on June 21 after since UN General Assembly in 2014 overwhelmingly adopted a draft resolution, declaring June 21 as International Yoga Day. A record 177 countries supported the resolution. 

The day holds great significance and aims to highlight the importance of Yoga in rejuvenating our body, mind and soul. The theme of this year's Yoga Day is Yoga for wellness, which focuses on practising Yoga for both physical and mental well being, and how the practice of yoga can promote the holistic health of every individual.