Muslims ought not worry about Jinnah's photos: Baba Ramdev

After VK Singh and Yogeshwar Dutt, now yoga guru Baba Ramdev has joined the row over Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s portrait in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

Replying to a query on the controversy, Ramdev said on Tuesday Muslims do not “attach importance” to pictures or idols and they should not worry about portraits of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Ramdev, who was in Nalanda district of Bihar to hold yoga classes, said, “The ghost of Jinnah is hogging a lot of limelight. Muslims ought not worry about the Pakistan founder’s pictures as they do not attach importance to photographs or idols in keeping with the tenets of their faith”.

“Jinnah can never be an ideal figure to those who believe in the country’s unity and integrity,” said Ramdev.

He said the ancient discipline of yoga must not be described as being pro-Hindu or against Muslims, Sikhs and Christians.

“Those having a problem with ‘Gayatri Mantra’ can practice yoga by reciting the name of Allah. Also, no ‘tantra-mantra’ (sorcery) is involved in yoga,” he said. Ramdev also said yoga must be a part of school curricula.

Also read | Muslims defending Jinnah insulting their forefathers: VK Singh on AMU unrest

Lauding Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to ban sale and consumption of alcohol in the state, he said liquor, petrol and diesel were the chief sources of revenue for any government, and that it must have taken “a lot of courage to take such a bold move”.

Noting that Bihar had “immense agriculture potential”, Ramdev said his Patanjali Group was looking forward to setting up agro-based industrial units in the state.

Replying to a query, the yoga guru said he had received an invitation for the wedding of RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav.

Also read | Lalu Prasad gets five-day parole to attend son Tej Pratap’s wedding

Jinnah portrait row

Last week, tensions prevailed in Aligarh as students resorted to sit-in at the university’s Baab-e-Syed gate, where they had clashed with the police on 3 May. They even boycotted classes for two days.

The students offered Friday prayers at the scene of the dharna in which a large number of teachers and other members of the AMU fraternity participated.

On 3 April, clash took place when the students were demanding action against right-wing protesters who entered the AMU campus and demanded removal of Jinnah’s portrait from the Students’ Union Office, where it has been hanging for decades.

The row started after local BJP MP Satish Gautam wrote to AMU Vice Chancellor Tariq Mansoor raising objections to the portrait.

Objecting to the portrait, the Aligarh MP asked the Vice Chancellor to explain the presence of the portrait adding that after India’s Partition, there is no justification for displaying the picture of Pakistan’s creator.

In the letter, the BJP leader said that he wanted to know under what circumstances the portrait of Jinnah was still placed in the university.

The University said portraits of all life members of the student union hang there. Jinnah, a founder member of the University Court, had also been given this honour before Partition.