Madhya Pradesh's attempt to set a world record with thousands of students performing the Surya Namaskar exercise has sparked controversy. Muslim leaders have issued a fatwa against it, calling the practice un-Islamic and equating it with idol worship, which is prohibited in Islam. The state's School Education Department has arranged the event with the goal of registering the record in the Guinness Book of Records, encouraging maximum participation from government and aided schools.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan clarified that participation is voluntary, while State School Education Minister Archana Chitnis emphasized that Surya Namaskar is a health-focused yogic exercise, not tied to any religion. Despite this, Muslim leaders argue that the initiative aims to saffronize the education system, fueling further debate.