Those who want to avoid Yoga can leave India: Yogi Adityanath

Amid protest by minority groups against Yoga Day allegedly being made compulsory, the BJP Member of Parliament from Gorakhpur Yogi Adityanath on Monday said those who want to avoid Yoga can “leave Hindustan”. He also said people opposing 'Surya Namaskar' should drown themselves in the sea. The fire brand Hindutva leader made the controversial statement while speaking at a function at Mata Annapurna Mandir in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to Hindi daily Dainik Jagaran, Mr. Adityanath said, “Lord Shankar was the biggest Yogi who started Yoga. Mahadev (another name of Lord Shankar) lives in every particle of this country. So, those who want to avoid Yoga and Lord Shankar can leave Hindustan.” He also criticised different groups for opposing Surya Namaskar. He said that sun is the source of all energy in the world and Surya Namaskar is part of the Yogic act. “My humble request to those who see communalism in even Sun God would be to drown themselves in the sea or live in a dark room for the rest of their lives,” he said while arguing that more than 43 countries will celebrate June 21 as Yoga day across the world.   The Hindu