July 03, 2012: The Catholic Church in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh
has withdrawn a court case against the state government over the issue of introducing
yogic exercise Surya Namaskar (sun worship) in minority schools.
The decision
of Catholic Bishops’ Council of Madhya Pradesh came after the government gave an undertaking
before the state High Court that performing sun worship was voluntary for schools
and students.
Besides the Catholic Church, the Muslim community in the state
too opposed the introduction of the yogic exercise in their schools, saying that it
was against the tenets of Islam.
The government came up with the idea of introducing
the exercise in schools in 2007 to help students to remain physically and mentally
fit. It had at that time termed it as just an exercise session which had nothing to
do with religions.
But both the minority communities opposed it, saying it
was part of the government’s divisive policy and also to promote Hindu religion. The
yogic exercise, according to them, was nothing but worshiping sun God, a part of Hindu
religion.
However, a Muslim group moved the Madhya Pradesh High Court in January
2007 demanding to quash the government’s program. The HC made the program optional
for students from minority communities and directed the government not to use any
force to participate in it.
Earlier in January this year, the state government
officials issued orders to the schools run by minority communities to join a mass
sun worship program the government had organized to enter into Guinness Book of World
Records. The Catholic Bishops sued the government for violating the 2007 court and
forcing Christian students to join the exercise held in schools across the state.