PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, Dec 4: Famous and controversial yoga practitioner Rafia Naaz and 15 others took membership of the BJP in a meeting held at the state BJP headquarters in Ranchi on Saturday. The ceremony was organized in the presence of BJP state president Deepak Prakash.
Rafia said she joined the BJP after being inspired by the work it is doing in the interests of minorities. She said she will use her membership to elevate the voice of the oppressed.
“The only reason I have joined politics is to serve my country and proceed with the works undertaken by the BJP led by the central government for the upliftment of women in the society,” she said.
Rafia Naaz came into the limelight after sharing the stage with yoga guru Baba Ramdev in Ranchi back in 2015. A fatwa was issued against her in November 2017 for practicing yoga and she was threatened with the death penalty. Later, she was provided security by the district administration.
Rafia has been doing yoga since she was four years old and believes that yoga should be recognised as a full fitness sport that transcends religions. In a variety of national and international competitions, she has won more than 52 gold medals and certificates of appreciation.
She runs yoga classes at three different locations in Ranchi. More than 2,500 men and women of different age groups and children attend these classes.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Rafia was taking online classes and teaching people how to avoid blood clotting in the lungs and post-infection depression. She also offers tips to boost immunity to those already infected by Covid.
