No Surya Namaskar on International Yoga Day After Muslim Body Says it is 'Against Islam'

The Modi government has decided to leave out Surya Namaskar from the asanas that will be performed during nation-wide events to mark the first International Yoga Day on 21 June, following protests from Muslim bodies. 

The  All India Muslim Personal Law Board had said that the Surya Namaskar was "against Islam," and had urged the government to not make it compulsory across schools during the Yoga Day. 

The board had said that Muslims cannot "salute the sun" as it was against Islam, and that they only bowed before 'Allah', according to The Hindu. 

Following the protests, the government has finally decided to drop the Surya Namskar this yoga Day, The Times of India reported. 

The government has planned large-scale celebrations for the first Yoga Day, with Modi himself set to do asanas along with at least 30,000 others at Rajpath in Delhi, which could also go down as a world record. 

However, the Yoga Day has faced several objections on religious grounds, as some minority groups have condemned making it compulsory. 

PM Modi had first called for a global day dedicated to Yoga in his speech at the UN General Assembly last year during his visit to the United States.

The United Nations had declared the International Yoga Day last year, on 11 December.