Bengaluru: A Muslim minister in Congress-ruled Karnataka has backed surya namaskar and yoga. Karnataka Health Minister UT Khader says if community leaders have a problem with it, they should just face the other side and do the exercise. He said Karnataka would follow all central guidelines to promote International Yoga Day.
UT Khader said, "If there is any assumption about surya namaskar, then turn around and do it. Face the other side and do the exercise. With yoga there is no downfall or upliftment of any community. Only health will go up and down." He also called pranayam "a very good exercise."
Describing yoga as an ancient gift, he said, "Yoga is a gift given by our ancestors. It is now internationally recognised. We have always said what medicine can’t cure, yoga can cure. We don’t know what guidelines are there from Central government about Surya Namaskara. Earlier surya namaskar was there, now it has been removed. Whatever comes from Central government we will implement it."
Commenting on some Muslim organistaions opposition to it, Khader said, "I am a health minister first. My opinion is health, education and food should are above religion. Thus I consider this as an exercise and there is nothing wrong in doing exercises. What assumptions our religious leaders have about yoga, it is the duty of the government to clarify it."
He also said that he has practiced yoga and brought down his weight. Talking about surya namaskar, Khader said, "Our teacher did not train us, but I have done other exercises."
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