Patna, June 19: The politics over the celebration of the International Day of Yoga on June 21 would have its impact on the participation of the Bihar government departments in the event.
Most of the state government departments would make it a low-key affair as the officials apprehend their enthusiasm might not go down well with their political boss (read chief minister Nitish Kumar). Nitish's party (JDU) has even accused the BJP, the ruling party in the Centre, of using yoga as a political tool.
For the first time this year, June 21 would be observed as the International Day of Yoga. The UN had declared the day in December last year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a call for the same during his participation in the UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) in September 2014.
Sources in the JDU maintained that an impression was being created among people that Prime Minister Modi had played a big role in getting yoga recognised at the international-level, which was not the case. The view of the state's ruling party is playing on the nerves of the officials.
"We did receive an advisory with a detailed booklet about the event from the Union ministry (Ayush) with a message of Modi about celebration of the day. But our department is not doing much," a principal secretary-rank IAS officer told The Telegraph on Friday.
Another senior IAS officer pointed out that he himself had been practising yoga since his college days in late 1970s and was personally of the opinion that there was nothing wrong in spreading word about it but he was not propagating it in the department as it might be construed as his inclination towards a particular political party. "No point getting involved in the fight between two political leaders. It is better to lie low in such a situation and I am doing the same," pointed out the official.
Sources in the state secretariat said a senior bureaucrat had come up with a more innovative idea and had decided to take leave for a few days to keep away from the event not being appreciated by the state government.
Asked about the state government's plan to mark the International Day of Yoga in the wake of the circular sent by the Union ministry, Bihar chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh refused to speak much stating that the same (the circular) had been circulated among the departments as well as the institutions concerned.
Sources in the state secretariat did hint that the state was not very enthusiastic about the event. "Generally, teams are formed, departments and districts are instructed and special monitoring is done in case the state government feels enthusiastic about organising any event across the state. In the case of the International Day of Yoga, nothing of this sort is being done. It is a clear message for the state government departments about the government's expectations from them for the event," said the source.
Senior officials refused to comment on the government's apathy towards the event maintaining that they didn't want to be drawn into any controversy.