Shiv Sena asks Narendra Modi if yoga will relieve pain of inflation

MUMBAI: In yet another salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shiv Sena today said bringing yoga to the centre stage of the world was a praise-worthy effort, but will practising the ancient form of exercise relieve people of the pain of inflation.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi deserves praise for making 130 countries perform yoga. The world bends if somebody makes it do so. Through yoga, Modi made 130 nations lay on the ground," the Sena said.

"What is now needed is to make Pakistan lie down forever. This can only happen with the help of weapons. Pakistan deserves a permanent 'Shavaasan' (a yoga position that involves lying down like a corpse)," the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

It said that while chief ministers of non-BJP states may oppose Modi, yoga is a science that should not be opposed.

"A lot can be achieved through yoga. But, in daily life, can yoga help in relieving the pains of high inflation and corruption? It would be good if a clarification is given on this as well," it said.

The United Nations had last year declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

Lakhs of people across India and abroad stretched themselves in various postures to mark the second International Yoga Day as the Prime Minister maintained that yoga is not a religious activity.

Sena, which is part of the BJP-led governments in Maharashtra and at the Centre, has been critical of BJP and the Modi government following strain in their ties since their alliance in Maharashtra collapsed ahead of the October 2014 Assembly polls due to problems over seat-sharing.

Though they did come together after the election, Sena has been reduced to a junior partner and has lost no opportunity to hit out at BJP leaders.

Recently, Sena had been critical of Modi's remarks abroad about India being plagued by corruption, saying they "maligned the nation's image", and questioned if scams in BJP-ruled Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat can be attributed to others.