Don't link Yoga with religion: M M Joshi

Kanpur, Jun 9: Terming Yoga a "boon" for the body, senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi today said that the ancient Indian health practise should not be linked with any religion and those who oppose it are ignorant.

Joshi was talking to reporters after flagging off Kanpur-Jammu Tawi Express train at the central railway station here this evening. Replying to a question on some groups opposing the upcoming celebration of World Yoga Day on June 21, the veteran parliamentarian said, "Those who are opposing Yoga Day or Yoga are ignorant.

Yoga cannot be linked with any particular religion. It is a boon for the body as those who practise it keep several diseases at bay."

[Read: Why Muslim board should be happy about the Yoga Day]

He further said, "Muslims, who read the namaz (prayer) five times a day, that is also a type of Yoga." Joshi also exhorted people to participate in the World Yoga Day programme in large numbers.

PTI