Yoga is not un-Islamic; Namaz is also Yoga, argue Baba Ramdev, Shripad Naik

[email protected] (CD Network)
June 9, 2015

New Delhi, Jun 9: Two prominent advocates of Yoga have strongly argued that yogic postures are not anti-Islamic. Modi government's 'yoga minister' Shripad Yesso Naik and well-known Yoga guru Baba Ramdev also have claimed that Islamic prayer Namaz involves several yogic postures.

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They were responding to recent statements by prominent Indian Muslim organizations, slamming Centre’s controversial plans to have mass yoga demonstrations across the country, including in schools and colleges to mark the first International Yoga Day on June 21, which are to be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The Muslim leaders had said yoga, especially the sun salutation, or surya namaskar, was un-Islamic since a Muslim could bow only before the Creator of the universe and not His creations.

Naik said: Yoga is the product of sadhana of learned men and women, which are beyond religion and pertain to one's physical and mental well-being. It is wrong to say that it is un-Islamic. Why, look at the postures of namaaz, there are eight yoga postures in it including vajrasana."

Kamal Farooqui, member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), countered the minister's "yogic namaaz" formulation. "If the minister has found yoga in namaaz, then why not make that compulsory in schools? We don't have objections to yoga, just the fact that it is being imposed and impinges on our religious freedom," he said.

On the other hand Ramdev has decided to bring 5,000 of his followers to Rajpath on June 21, International Yoga Day, to perform yoga with Modi and about 30,000 others at Delhi's Rajpath.

Ramdev said, "What does breathing have to do with any religion?" adding, "One of the reasons the Surya Namaskar got controversial is because some people started chanting mantras with it.” He said that was not necessary.

"People have not represented it well. In fact, you don't even have to look east while doing the Surya Namaskar." But the yoga teacher defended the chanting of "Om", saying it generates energy.

He said, "When one does Namaz, isn't that exactly like Vajrasana?" pointing out the similarity between the posture for offering prayers in Islam and the yoga asana.

He appealed to religious leaders to join in the yoga day demonstration and said even the Darul ul loom seminary school Deoband had welcomed him and done yoga with him.

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December 2,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 2: Mangaluru International Airport responded to a medical emergency late on Monday night. Air India Express flight IX 522, travelling from Riyadh to Thiruvananthapuram, was diverted to Mangaluru Airport after a passenger in his late 30s experienced a medical emergency on board.

The Airport’s Operations Control Centre received an alert regarding the passenger’s health condition. The airport activated its emergency response protocol, mobilising the airport medical team and coordinating with stakeholders including CISF, immigration, and customs. 

Upon landing, airport medical personnel attended to the passenger, assessed his condition, and arranged to shift him to a local tertiary-care hospital for further treatment. The passenger’s relatives accompanied the passenger, who incidentally received necessary medical care on board, which helped stabilise the situation.

Following the handling of the emergency, the flight departed for Thiruvananthapuram at 2:05 am on Tuesday.

"We appreciate the cooperation of all parties involved, and this incident reaffirms our ongoing commitment to prioritising passenger safety and readiness to respond to unforeseen emergencies with professionalism and care," the Airport spokesperson said. 

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December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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December 3,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 3: A group of Congress workers gathered at the Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday to welcome AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, but the reception quickly turned into a display of support for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Venugopal arrived in the city to participate in the centenary commemoration of the historic dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Narayana Guru. The event, organised by the Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, in association with the Mangalore University Sri Narayana Guru Study Chair, is being held on the university’s Konaje campus.

KPCC general secretary Mithun Rai and several party workers had assembled at the airport to receive Venugopal. However, the moment he stepped out, workers began raising slogans backing Shivakumar.

The university programme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

This show of support comes just a day after Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar would lead the government “when the high command decides.” The chief minister made the comment after a breakfast meeting at Shivakumar’s residence—another public display of camaraderie between the two leaders amid ongoing attempts by the party high command to downplay their leadership rivalry.

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