Date:13/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/13/stories/2008011356860100.htm

National

Mass Surya namaskar in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal: Ignoring opposition, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh on Friday went ahead with its controversial Surya namaskar programme across the State.

School and college students from government institutions were among the tens of thousands of people who went through the drill of offering salutation to the Sun around 9 a.m. to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Instructions were even aired by All India Radio enabling participants to simultaneously perform the exercise in all district headquarters.

Participation in the programme was, however, made voluntary as last year minority community leaders opposed it on religious grounds. The Opposition has dismissed the event as a case of misplaced priorities.

At the main function here, organised by the School Education Department, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said Yoga would be included in school curriculum from the next year. — PTI