Bhopal: The BJP Government in Madhya Pradesh seems to be going ahead with the mass yoga programme on ``surya namaskar,'' expected to be attended by over three lakh school children.

Elaborate preparations have been made for the ``surya namaskar'' and ``pranayam'' programme, planned at school, district and State levels on January 25, as announced by Health Minister Ajay Vishnoi and School Education Minister Narottam Mishra last month, official sources said on Tuesday.

The event would be monitored by committees formed by District Collectors, they said, adding that Ministers had been asked to attend the programme in the districts. The main programme here would be led by yoga guru Baba Ramdev and telecast and aired across the State, sources said.

Citizens, private organisations and educational institutes had been invited to attend it.

Two teachers were trained in every block to conduct the programme.

Describing the move as ``unconstitutional,'' a 11-member committee, constituted at a meeting of important Muslim bodies called by the State unit of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), had sought Governor Balram Jakhar's intervention in preventing the programme.

Jamiat Ulma Hind had also approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking a stay on the event.

``Though we don't have objections to any kind of yogic exercise it is unconstitutional to force students of all religions to recite religious verses during ``surya namaskar'' — which we believe is worship of sun and against Islam,'' Jamiat executive member Haji Mohd Haroon told PTI.

``Booklets carrying `slokas' (religious verses) have also been circulated among the schools for recitation,'' the Muslim representatives said, claiming to have garnered support of their Christian counterparts against it.

The BJP Government was attempting to ``incite religious passion under the garb of yoga'' among school children, Catholic Church of Madhya Pradesh spokesman Anand Muttungal said. — PTI

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