Minister kicks up storm over Sanskrit prayer

As the participants sat on yoga mat with folded hands during the recital of the ‘keerthan,’ the minister was seen visually upset and later left the venue before the completion of the programme. 

Before leaving the venue, she reportedly asked the organisers if the prayer songs was necessary. The minister said yoga did not belong to any particular religion and it should be conducted in such a manner so that people from all religious belief could take part in it. 

However, the officials clarified that the Sanskrit ‘shloka’ was included in the Yoga Day manual issued by the Central government. A CD was given to the minister’s office in advance. 

Later, the minister clarified that she had only suggested that they should have selected a prayer acceptable to all sections of society. 

BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan strongly condemned the action of the minister, saying that International Day of Yoga was being observed in a secular manner.