By NewsGram Staff Writer

The Central government has decided to remove Surya Namaskar from the series of asanas to be performed across the country to celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21.

A news report published in an English daily suggests that the step of removing Surya Namaskar was taken as a consequence of opposition from Muslim groups, to cater to the demands of equality that were raised repeatedly.

In a series of efforts against making 'Hindu religious practices' compulsory in educational institutions, the All India Muslim Personal Board (AIMPLB) has demanded that the order mandating Surya Namaskar in schools should also be cancelled.

The board had said that Muslims cannot "salute the sun" as it was against Islam, and that they only bowed before 'Allah', according to The Hindu.

This is not the first time that the Centre has received flak for 'encouraging' Hindu practices. In April, the Centre had been criticized due to the chanting of 'Aum' while issuing a common protocol for the commemoration of the International Yoga Day.