On the occasion of International Day of Yoga, a picture of BSF jawans doing yoga was being circulated online. What caught people’s attention is that the jawans were sitting on top of camels while doing breathing exercises.
According to ABP, another picture that went viral showed the BSF jawans standing on top of the camels.
Yoga by @BSF_India personnel with ubiquitous camels at #Jodhpur Training Centre in #Rajasthan #YogaForWellness pic.twitter.com/gsCzrISnEv
— Neeraj Rajput (@neeraj_rajput) June 21, 2021
Some tried to reason saying that the camels are trained to remain in such postures to hide from enemies.
And my observation is on these stunts. Camels are trained for such postures which are helpful while patrolling and there is a need to duck to escape enemy observation
— Snehesh Alex Philip (@sneheshphilip) June 21, 2021
Ya. Yoga like this is bad. It should not be condoned. But these camels r trained which will go down on command so other side can’t see them.
— bharathkumardk (@bharathkumardk) June 21, 2021
However, these pictures received tremendous flak online. Many accused the jawans of “animal cruelty” and “ruthlessness”. They further urged them not to stand/sit on the animals while performing yoga as it might hurt them.
Yoga is a good thing, should be done everyday. But below picture of @BSF_India personnel is just not done. Don’t overdo things for the sake of pictures. Making the camel lie down and posing for camera like this is just not done. Don’t reduce Yoga Day to this. pic.twitter.com/y2MUkcsL77
— Snehesh Alex Philip (@sneheshphilip) June 21, 2021
Total tamasha. That is what the day has been reduced to. pic.twitter.com/7eGts5KuxC
— Man Aman Singh Chhina (@manaman_chhina) June 21, 2021
निर्दय योग! ऊँट के पाँव बांधकर, क़ालीन के माफ़िक़ ज़मीन पर बिछाकर उसकी पीठ पर योगासन करना योग नहीं है, क्रूरता भरा अत्याचार है। साधना और आत्मानुशासन वाले योग को सरकारी आदेशों से सड़क-मैदान की कसरत-पीटी में बदल देना इस दौर की एक और नायाब देन समझिए। फ़ोटो सौजन्य @manaman_chhina pic.twitter.com/eyBhGxCgVY
— Om Thanvi (@omthanvi) June 21, 2021
Looks brutal for the camels 🙁
— shobhita dutt (@shobhitadutt) June 21, 2021
what’s the need to sit on them like this? surely not very comfortable nor was it necessary!
— Appi মল্লিক Kandwal (@Appi47931128) June 21, 2021
Kahan kahan se idea atta he inhe pose keliye.. Who arranged this, if yoga then try a pose on your belly not on camel’s.
— Madhusmita sahoo🇮🇳 (@Madhusm57613089) June 21, 2021
Total unnecessary act, and over-doing for one-day event. And, even if the animal is trained to lie-down, why reveal this? Patrolling tactics and training methods need not be highlighted.
— Sonia Minocha/সোনিয়া/ಸೋನಿಯಾ/சோனியா/सोनिया (@SoniaMinochka) June 22, 2021
To hide from the enemies and not to be used As a sofa
— Anti You (@Indicolite04) June 21, 2021
Very cruel..not acceptable..not expected from our respected forces.
— Saksham Agrawal (@Saksham42336112) June 22, 2021
That’s cruelty to a forcibly subdued animal. Not in good taste.
— Fasih Ahmed (@Fasih_Ahmed) June 21, 2021
What do you think of these pictures? Tell us.