Kashmir opposition uneasy with Surya Namaskar advisory to state colleges

Srinagar, Jan 13 (UNI) Many politicians including two former chief ministers are outraged after a senior government functionary in J&K directed nodal Principals of colleges in J&K to ensure faculty members and students actively participate in large scale virtual Surya Namaskar program to be held on January 14.
National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti took to Twitter to express anger over the move.
“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,” Omar tweeted. “Would the BJP be happy if a similar order was issued to order non-Muslim students to celebrate Eid?” he asked.
Mufti said the directive gives insight into “communal mindset” of Government of India.
“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, “Mufti Tweeted.

The Director Colleges has asked nodal Principals of Jammu and Srinagar to organize large-scale virtual Surya Namaskar programs on January 14 to mark the Makar Sankranti as a part of its Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.

“The oppression does not reflect in this order or “desire” as much as the slavery reflects in the pen of the undersigned. They told them to bend, the so called “leadership” of Kashmir crawled. But what about the society as a whole? What does the signature in this case reflect?” NC leader and former minister Ruhullah Mehdi Tweeted
PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said he would not permit his child “participate in any such activity.”
“There is no God but God and He alone is worthy of Worship. To you your faith to me mine (Qur’an) No compulsion in Faith (Qur’an). I would not permit my child participate in any such activity. Nor force anyone else to do it my way,” Akhtar Tweeted.