International Yoga Day: AIMPLB opposes, a Muslim couple disposes

Saurabh Sharma

Balrampur: The opposition of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on the participation of Muslims in International Yoga Day notwithstanding, an NGO being run by the Muslim couple is all set to guide thousands of participants in this district of Uttar Pradesh.

Mohammad Sayeed Memorial Welfare Society, an NGO run by Akhtar and his wife Shaista, has been once again selected by the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy under Union Ministry of Ayush to conduct the Yoga camp in Balrampur district. This was the only muslim couple to have been selected by the Centre last year.

"We are highly excited to guide the participants this time also. We are thankful to the government for considering us and this time we hope that a large gathering of people will come to participate in the International Yoga Day. We are not sure whether or not Muslims will attend it but let us hope for the best,” Shaista told newztrack.com in a telephonic conversation.

AIMPLB opposes Muslims participation in International Yoga Day

Over the opposition by AIMPLB:

“Look, I do not want to comment on this as we do not have any political motives. We have been practising Yoga since a very long time and we do not find it ‘anti-Islam’. Had it been so, I would have left it long ago,” she added.

Shaista said their objective was that people draw maximum benefit out of yoga and added that her husband has been practising yoga since the last 10 years.

AIMPLB says:

In a strongly-worded statement, the AIMPLB member Zafaryaab Jeelani has described it as an attack on constitutional propriety and advised the Muslims to keep away from the ‘Yoga day’ to be celebrated by Ayush ministry of Government of India.