Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar skips BJP’s pet program International Yoga Day 

Does Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s avoidance of International Yoga Day celebrations point to bitterness in the political relationship between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Nitish’s Janata Dal (United)? Yoga programs were organised at many places in Bihar on the occasion of International Yoga Day. The BJP, Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party and the Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, which like JD(U) are part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), took part in these programs, but the JD(U) pointedly kept its distance.

A 'Samuhik Yogabhyas’ program was organised by the Art, Culture and Youth Department at the Pataliputra Sports Ground in Patna on June 21, and was inaugurated by Governor Satyapal Malik. When asked why the chief minister was not present at this program, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi clarified, "It is not necessary that everyone comes out to participate." Modi added that, "Today people are doing yoga in 190 countries. Chief Minister Nitish also does yoga at home and his not coming to the yoga program should not be seen through political spectacles. "

JD(U) State President Bashishta Narayan Singh said that yoga should not be linked to any alliance or partnership. “Yoga can be done anywhere, anytime. People do yoga even in their home. If we don’t do yoga publicly doesn’t mean that we avoid doing yoga”, said Singh.

Four years ago, when the announcement was made to that International Yoga Day would be celebrated every June 21, Nitish Kumar had then said that yoga is a personal matter, what is the use of doing it publicly. But now, Nitish has formed a coalition government with BJP. At this time, JD(U) staying away from such a big and pet program of BJP and the Modi government shows that all is not well between BJP and JD(U).

Nitish Kumar and his party appear to be frequently standing against the decisions of the BJP and the Modi government. A few days ago, the Bihar government rejected the Prime Minister's Crop Insurance Scheme and introduced an insurance plan at the state level.

Earlier Nitish Kumar had also questioned whether demonetisation had any positive results. Nitish had said that because of the role played by banks, the benefits of demonetisation had not been received by the people.