BMC passes BJP's proposal to make Surya Namaskar, yoga mandatory in civic schools

BJP corporator Samita Kamble’s proposal to make Yoga and Surya Namaskar mandatory in civic schools has been passed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The proposal was passed after Shiv Sena corporators voted for it, however the Opposition parties demanded that the practice should be made optional.

Though, during the discussion, the Sena corporators neither spoke in favour nor against the proposal. More than 5.4 lakh students study in nearly 1,230 municipal schools in the city.

Samajwadi Party corporator Rais Shaikh said that Surya Namaskar should be removed from the proposal. “The BJP wants to bring Hindu customs in schools, which is a secular space, and wants to force the students to do things under the pretext of culture. We will take our children out of the school, if necessary, but we won’t let the BJP infiltrate into the minds of young children who should have the freedom to choose their religion and follow its customs,” he said.

Congress corporator Mohsin Haider said, “We have nothing against yoga, but why should Surya Namaskar be made mandatory when it can hurt religious sentiments.” “Surya Namaskar is not a part of religion but just a type of physical exercise,” said BJP’s Dilip Patel.