Muslim Law Board slams government for organising Surya Namaskar programme, calls it unconstitutional

The Board also demanded the government to withdraw an order issued by Higher Education Regulator University Grants Commission (UGC) in this regard.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has directed all Muslim students to not participate in 'Surya Namaskar' exercise, claiming it is a form of "sun worship" which is not allowed in their religion. The Board also demanded the government to withdraw an order issued by Higher Education Regulator University Grants Commission (UGC) in this regard.

It must be noted that on December 29, the UGC had issued a notification as per which all higher educational institutes were asked to ask their students to perform the 'Surya Namaskar' exercise as part of the celebrations of the country's 75th year of independence.

In an official statement, the AIMPLB said India is a secular country where many religions are practised. "Sun worship is not allowed in Islam and other minority religions. The government should withdraw the order while respecting the secular values enshrined in the Constitution. If the government wishes to organise any programme in schools it should organise something related to patriotic music, it said.

Calling the move unconstitutional, the board also accused the government of deviating from the principle of secularism and trying to endorse the ideology and tradition of the majority community. The Ministry of AYUSH on January 3 launched a 75 crore Surya Namaskar Initiative to promote a healthy lifestyle through the practice of yoga.

The statement said the government should instead focus on issues like unemployment, price rise and its "failure" to protect the country's borders. "Muslim students are not allowed to participate in the programme," read the AIMPLB statement.
Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh reacted to the statement, advising the AIMPLB to desist from "politics" and alleging it appears the Board's stand is aimed at benefiting the Congress in election.
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