The Jammu Kashmir administration has asked the principals in the region to ensure faculty members and students “actively participate” in the large-scale virtual “Surya Namaskar” program that is scheduled to be held on January 14, 2022.
In a notice issued by the Directorate of Colleges Higher Education department of Jammu Kashmir administration, the department said, “To mark the holy occasion of Makar Sakranti on 14th January, GOI has desired that on the occasion a large scale virtual Surya Namaskar be organized under Azadi ka Amrit Mohatsav celebrations.”
The notice further read, To make it a People-Centric Successful Programme with Tagline “Surya Namaskar For Vitality’ kindly ensure that all faculty members and students actively participate in this programme by registering on any of a few portals mentioned in the notice.
“It shall however be ensured COVID 19 Appropriate behavior Guidelines are followed in letter and spirit,” the notice read.
Earlier, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Tuesday opposed the directive of the Central government to organise the ‘Surya Namaskar’ program in schools to mark the 75th anniversary of Independence Day saying ‘Surya Namaskar’ is a form of Surya puja (worship of the sun) and Islam does not allow it.
He said that the “government has directed schools to conduct it from January 1 and a musical programme is going to be conducted on January 26 on the theme.”
He alleged, “Surya Namaskar is unconstitutional and is false patriotism as minority in the country do not believe in idol worship… so imposing it is not in sync with the constitution and asked the government to refrain from it and follow secular credentials of the country.”
He said, “Muslim children are not allowed and they should refrain from participating in the programme.”
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Personal Choice
Former chief minister of Jammu Kashmir Omar Abdullah tweeted ‘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?
Mehbooba Mufti said, “Authorities in #Kashmir region have asked nodal principals of colleges in #Jammu and #Kashmir divisions to ensure faculty members and students actively participate in large scale virtual Surya Namaskar programmme that is supposed to be held on January 14, 2022.”