01-12-2007, 05:01 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>MP muslims to boycott Surya Namaskar</b>
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14366447
Bhopal: Another controversy similar to the earlier Vande Mataram one has come alive in Madhya Pradesh, with Muslim organisations describing Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation), planned by the state government in all schools across the state en masse, as anti-Islam and refusing to participate in it.
The government had asked the states schools and colleges to organise mass Surya Namaskar on January 25 when it would unveil its yoga policy to spread benefits of Yoga among masses.
The government also plans to organise a mass yoga programme, asking school students to participate in 'surya namaskar' and 'pranayama' under directions of Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on the same day. Arrangements were being made to relay the programme live to schools across the state through radio and television.
The Government had asked all the district collectors and district education officers to ensure arrangements for Surya Namaskar and Pranayam in the schools on that day.
This has irked the leaders of Muslim community who say that if the government does not drops the programme, they will not be sending their children to schools and colleges on that day <b>because Islam does not permit bowing before anyone except Allah. </b>
By making Surya Namaskar compulsory, the BJP-ruled state government was encroaching upon our right to religious freedom. We will first appeal the government to drop the programme and if it doesnt, we will be left with no choice but stop our children from going to schools and colleges that day, said Noorullah Yusuf, Jamiat-e-Ulemas Madhya Pradesh unit spokesman.
He, however, added that a final decision in this regards wouldl be taken only after the January 11 meeting of All India Muslim Personal Law Board was over.
Condemning the Government decision to organise Surya Namaskar and Pranayam in the educational institutions across the state, Mufti Shahar Syed Babar Hussain of Darul Ifta (Muslim religious body) said, it was another attempt by the State Government to hurt their religious sentiments of the minorities. We are not going to abide by it under any circumstances.
Naib Mufti Shahar Rahees Ahmad Khan Qasmi of Darul Ifta also damned the state government saying, ours is a secular country and the state should instead take steps to delink religion from education.
"Since it is not made mandatory, there is no question of forcing any religion to practice Surya Namaskar," Mishra added.
The hue and cry over a programme aimed at inspiring the youth to know about yoga and its benefits has no meaning. Moreover, it is not compulsory for the students to join it, said state School Education Minister Narottan Mishra.
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http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14366447
Bhopal: Another controversy similar to the earlier Vande Mataram one has come alive in Madhya Pradesh, with Muslim organisations describing Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation), planned by the state government in all schools across the state en masse, as anti-Islam and refusing to participate in it.
The government had asked the states schools and colleges to organise mass Surya Namaskar on January 25 when it would unveil its yoga policy to spread benefits of Yoga among masses.
The government also plans to organise a mass yoga programme, asking school students to participate in 'surya namaskar' and 'pranayama' under directions of Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on the same day. Arrangements were being made to relay the programme live to schools across the state through radio and television.
The Government had asked all the district collectors and district education officers to ensure arrangements for Surya Namaskar and Pranayam in the schools on that day.
This has irked the leaders of Muslim community who say that if the government does not drops the programme, they will not be sending their children to schools and colleges on that day <b>because Islam does not permit bowing before anyone except Allah. </b>
By making Surya Namaskar compulsory, the BJP-ruled state government was encroaching upon our right to religious freedom. We will first appeal the government to drop the programme and if it doesnt, we will be left with no choice but stop our children from going to schools and colleges that day, said Noorullah Yusuf, Jamiat-e-Ulemas Madhya Pradesh unit spokesman.
He, however, added that a final decision in this regards wouldl be taken only after the January 11 meeting of All India Muslim Personal Law Board was over.
Condemning the Government decision to organise Surya Namaskar and Pranayam in the educational institutions across the state, Mufti Shahar Syed Babar Hussain of Darul Ifta (Muslim religious body) said, it was another attempt by the State Government to hurt their religious sentiments of the minorities. We are not going to abide by it under any circumstances.
Naib Mufti Shahar Rahees Ahmad Khan Qasmi of Darul Ifta also damned the state government saying, ours is a secular country and the state should instead take steps to delink religion from education.
"Since it is not made mandatory, there is no question of forcing any religion to practice Surya Namaskar," Mishra added.
The hue and cry over a programme aimed at inspiring the youth to know about yoga and its benefits has no meaning. Moreover, it is not compulsory for the students to join it, said state School Education Minister Narottan Mishra.
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