“Yoga day is not compulsory in schools. We will not punish anyone if they don’t hold yoga day in their schools,” Parsekar, who also holds the Education portfolio, said.
In its circular, Education department asked schools to submit a detailed report on how yoga day was observed.
The chief minister told the media that he had received a call from a Catholic priest who had said that having yoga on Sunday is not possible as students have to attend Sunday services in churches.
“I have told the schools that they can have it on Saturday, Sunday or even Monday as per their convenience. But yoga is not compulsory. We are not forcing it on anyone,” Parsekar said.
Education department had issued a circular asking all schools to participate in yoga day at a State function organized at Bambolim. Later the circular was withdrawn after protests from the school managements.
