JD-U differs with BJP over Yoga Day

Patna, June 20 (IANS) Unlike its ally the BJP, the ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) is not enthusiastic about the International Yoga Day on Thursday.

Unlike Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, those of the JD-U have decided to stay away from the fourth edition of the International Yoga Day celebrations.

"People have been doing yoga in their homes. Yoga is a part of India' culture," JD-U state President Vashisht Narain Singh said here.

JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said there should not be any politics on Yoga Day in the name of promoting it.

"Yoga is a personal choice of people. It is their private decision to do yoga or not. I also do yoga at my residence daily and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar too does yoga. But we never display it in public. Doing or displaying yoga in public place is wrong," he said.

Last year too the JD-U kept away from the International Yoga Day celebrations in Bihar but the party was then with the Grand Alliance along with the RJD and Congress.