It’s not just the BJP, Karnataka CM and Muslim League leader also propose compulsory yoga

  In a build up to the International Yoga Day (IYD) on June 21, many on social media and elsewhere accused the BJP-led NDA government of politicising Yoga, a form of art for physical and mental well-being, and called it Hindutva propaganda that was being forced upon minority communities. In the Hindustan Times, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury says the Prime Minister’s initiative smacks of a “marketing” gimmick and an attempt to “Hinduise” the large diversity in India. In another, Nirupama Subraminam writes, “I won’t have the government dictate my fitness choices, especially if they are linked to religion, nationalism and patriotism.” Later, media reported that IIT Rourkee made yoga mandatory for students.  While so many seem to be have been outraged by 'International Yoga Day', here is a surprise – a Muslim League leader and a Congress chief minister are backing yoga, even batting to make it “compulsory” in education. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah proposed the introduction of yoga in school and college curriculum as an optional subject. He further said that Karnataka State Higher Education Council had taken a step ahead and mooted the idea of making it a compulsory subject in undergraduate courses, due to ample job opportunities. Another individual whose thoughts are in sync with the Congress chief minister is Kerala MLA and Muslim League leader KNA Khader who on Sunday said that yoga should be made compulsory in all schools as, “Yoga is not the asset of any religion, political party or organisation”. These are two individuals, one belonging to a party with “secular” views and another to party for minorities, who are voicing their opinion. There has been no uproar against their statements in media, as yet, apart from a regular report carrying their statements. That said; let us just imagine the same statements, in the same context but being voiced by someone else. Let us now for a moment imagine Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani or Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself declaring that Yoga must be introduced in school/ college curriculum, mandatorily. Going by history, sections of the media would have certainly accused them of “saffronising” the country, and also questioned the “intent” behind such a move. However, the media seems to take no notice, or at least does not seem to have a problem with the views of either Siddaramaiah or Khader.  Where does one draw the line when it comes to questioning the intent of an initiative and is it party or individual specific? Or is it out of habit that anything perceived as Hindutva “propaganda” is opposed by the media? We do not hold anything against the Karnataka government’s proposal or that of the Muslim Leader’s, but the media needs to reflect on the selective issues that it sometimes choose to highlight. Having said that, it is perhaps right to say that it does not help BJP's case that there are members within the party who push the Hindutva agenda on every issue.