Health Minister unhappy over ‘Keerthan’ at Yoga Day event

Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister K.K Shailaja expressed her displeasure over the recitation of Keerthan of a particular religion at an event held as part of the International Yoga Day here on Tuesday.

Soon after the event, the minister reportedly sought an explanation from the officials over the recital of Keertan at the event.

The officials, however, clarified her that the Sanskrit 'shloka' was included as per the Yoga Day manual issued by the Central Government.

Meanwhile, the minister denied the media reports saying that she never asked for an explanation from the officials on the rendering of 'keerthans' .

Shailaja said she had only suggested that they should have selected a prayer acceptable to all sections of society.

"Yoga doesn't belong to any particular religion. It is also practised by people who do not believe in any religion," she said.

Reacting to the incident, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the minister’s response was unfortunate.

BJP president Kummanam Rajasekheran asked the minister to come clean and say which group of people she wanted to appease through this.

"We are baffled on why the minister was showing this much intolerance and it was totally unwarranted," said Rajasekheran.