No compulsion of saying Om during Yoga Day: Ayush Minister

May 25, 2016

New Delhi, May 25: Seeking to dispel the controversy over chanting of 'Om' during the World Yoga Day programme, Ayush Minister Shripad Naik today said there was "no compulsion" to say it. sripad-naik

The ministry said there is no change even in "a full stop or a comma" in the protocol of exercises performed last year and that Surya Namaskar will also not be a part of the yoga day programme. However, this year the programme will be extended by 10 minutes.

"Om is a universal word. There is no religious connotation to it. It will be a part of the yoga day programme just like last year, but it has not been made compulsory. Those who want to chant 'Om' can do it. Others can say something else they wish. It's up to them," Naik told reporters.

Chanting of Om during yoga day programme is being opposed by some sections of minorities.
"There will be no change in the protocol of exercise even by a comma or a full stop. 'Om' was a part of the protocol last year and it will also be a part this year. Like last year, even this year it has not been made compulsory," Anil Ganeriwala, Joint Secretary with the Ayush said.

Referring to media reports Naik said even Vice-President Hamid Ansari's wife's Salma has said there is nothing wrong in chanting 'Om' while performing yoga and, if one chants it, the oxygen intake in the body increases.

"Any good thing is opposed. Last year also we did it. I appeal people to be a part of the programme for their own personal good," Naik said, adding that 77 Muslim countries had participated in the programme last year.

The minister also launched a revamped website of the Ministry and a dedicated portal for the World Yoga Day. The World Yoga Day will be observed on June 21 across the globe, marking its second year of celebration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the event in Chandigarh.

Naik said the yoga programme does not have surya namaskar, but it will have a new set of exercise. "Surya namaskar is a difficult exercise as it has 12 asans. The protocol, designed by a committee of yoga experts, has been made to suit people from all age groups. After the programme if anyone wants to learn surya namaskar, we have the facility where they can learn the exercise.

"Also, this year we are extending the yoga time by 10 minutes as we had jumped few asans last year. Since June 21 is going to be in the hottest time period, we have introduced Sheetali Pranayama this time," Naik added.

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Y not say bismillaha

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Sabarimala row: Apex Court begins hearing pleas on discrimination against women

News Network

January 13,2020

New Delhi, Jan 13: The Supreme Court on Monday commenced hearing on issues related to discrimination against women in various religions and at religious places including Kerala's Sabarimala Temple.

A nine-judge bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said that it was not considering review pleas in the Sabarimala case.

“We are not hearing review pleas of Sabarimala case. We are considering issues referred to by a 5-judge bench earlier,” the bench said.

The apex court had on November 14 asked a larger bench to re-examine various religious issues, including the entry of women into the Sabarimala Temple and mosques and the practice of female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra community.

While the five-judge bench unanimously agreed to refer religious issues to a larger bench, it gave a 3:2 split decision on petitions seeking a review of the apex court's September 2018 decision allowing women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala shrine in Kerala.

A majority verdict by then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices A M Khanwilkar and Indu Malhotra decided to keep pending pleas seeking a review of its decision regarding entry of women into the shrine, and said restrictions on women in religious places was not restricted to Sabarimala alone and was prevalent in other religions as well.

The minority verdict by Justices R F Nariman and D Y Chandrachud gave a dissenting view by dismissing all review pleas and directing compliance of its September 28 decision.

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Get PM-CARES Fund audited; share details with people: Rahul Gandhi to Narendra Modi

Agencies

May 10,2020

New Delhi, May 10: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured audit of donations made to the PM-CARES Fund, and to share the details and the money spent with the people.

"The PM-CARES Fund has received huge contributions from PSUs and major public utilities like the Railways. It's important that the Prime Minister ensure the fund is audited and that the record of money received and spent is available to the public," he tweeted.

The #PmCares fund has received huge contributions from PSUs & major public utilities like the Railways.

Itâs important that PM ensures the fund is audited & that the record of money received and spent is available to the public.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 9, 2020
His remarks came amid reports that the central government is accumulating a huge sum of money in the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund set up as a corpus to fight novel coronavirus and that the amount spent will not be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

The CAG office had clarified that since the fund is based on donations, it has no right to audit a charitable organisation.

On Friday, Rahul Gandhi told the media that the PM-CARES Fund should be audited and people of the country should know about the donors and the donations made.

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