Rampur: Terming yoga as "secular", UP Minister Mohd Azam Khan said Muslims have been practising it since time immemorial but alleged that the BJP was trying to communalise it by stressing on Surya Namaskar.
Khan while interacting with media persons on the premises of Jauhar University yesterday said, "Crores of Muslims have been practising yoga since time immemorial but now by adding Surya Namaskar to yoga a conspiracy to spread religious hatred and separatism has been hatched because BJP has always been anti-Muslim."
He said yoga which is a secular exercise form, should remain in its widely acceptable state and "spewing of venom against the minority community should be checked".
Azam, said that people like Yogi Adityanath, who had reportedly made the controversial comment that those opposing yoga should drown, and Sakshi Maharaj were acting as BJP spokespersons while other party leaders maintained silence.
Raking up the demolition issue, the cabinet minister said, "Had Lord Ram been present he might not have allowed demolition of Babri Masjid" and instead would have taken on those who razed the religious structure.
Without naming anyone, he also urged President Pranab Mukherjee to take cognisance of those who have been running pharmacies and selling their products on the pretext of yoga to deceive the masses. Expressing his faith in Yoga Azam again emphasised "We are not opposed to yoga but we opposed persons of yogis cult who conspire to dump us in the sea."
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