By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 21, 2016 : Even as thousands gathered here to observe “International Yoga Day”, BJP leader and union petroleum and natural gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday came down heavily on Odisha Government for not celebrating ‘International Yoga Day’ officially and called the government “stupid”.

Describing the government’s move to stay away from berving Yoga Day, Pradhan told media persons, “Staying healthy is not a political activity. This is a social revolution. The State Government is acting stupid because of its lack of knowledge.”

Pradhan complimented prime minister, Narendra Modi for taking India’s 5000 years old Yoga to international arena with the United Nations declaring June 21 as International Yoga Day.

Pradhan was attending International Yoga Day here on Tuesday morning a Janata Maidan.

The opinion of BJD leaders varied person to person.

“Even though June 21 has been announced as International Yoga Day, the celebration is not mandatory. Nowhere has it been said that the day should be celebrated at a government level,” BJD Spokesperson Pratap Deb said.

However, agriculture minister, Pradeep Maharathy opined differently by supporting Yoga.“Yoga is a great medicine to heal the body without money.”

Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sudam Marandi advised that everyone should practice Yoga.“There is a need for Yoga to be practiced everywhere. One should practice it starting from the school days till the end of life. It has enormous positive effects on the life,” said Marandi.

“India is the country of Yoga. The saints practised Yoga and lived for hundreds of years. The Union Government might have started this to recall those days,” said MSME Minister Jogendra Behera.