Staff Report
The district administration Samba has released a video of students performing Surya Namaskar.
The video came despite protests by political parties against an order by government asking schools to perform Surya Namaskar.
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Advisor to LG, Farooq Khan however said that order issued with regard to performing of yoga and surya namskar to celebrate Makar Sankranti is not binding on all.
Director Colleges, Higher Education Department, Dr Yasmeen Ashai had issued a circular directing students and faculty members to organize ‘Virtual Surya Namskar Program’ on 14 January (Makar Sankranti) under ‘Azadi Ka Amiri Mahotsav’.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in a tweet said: “Why should Muslim students be forced to do anything, including yoga, to celebrate Makar Sankranti?Makar Sankranti is a festival & to celebrate it or not must be a personal choice. Would the BJP be happy if a similar order was issued to order non-Muslim students to celebrate Eid?”
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti reacted by saying, “GOIs PR misadventures aim to demean & collectively humiliate Kashmiris. Forcing students & staff to perform suryanamaskars by issuing orders despite their obvious discomfort with imposition of something laden with religious connotations gives an insight into their communal mindset.”