India's health minister on Saturday said he wants to push all school-going children to learn yoga, under the name of reducing the prevalence of diseases such as diabetes and hypertension in years to come.

Last week, Malaysia's National Fatwa Council, comprising Islamic scholars, staged widespread protests when it told Muslims to avoid yoga because it uses Hindu prayers that could erode Muslims' faith.

"I am going to make yoga mandatory for all school-going children in India (from) the coming year." Anbumani Ramadoss told a regional diabetes summit in Chennai in southern India.

The Malaysian Islamic scholars' decision drew a sharp rebuke from many Muslims and saw Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi move to contain the damage, telling national news agency Bernama that Muslims could carry on doing yoga but minus the chanting.

Muslims believe everyone is responsible of keeping themselves good health and of taking care their health. Their special pray 'fasting' is a symbol of being healty besides its mean about devoting themselves to God.

Adult-onset diabetes has been linked to risk factors like ageing, an inactive lifestyle, unhealthy diets, smoking, alcohol and obesity.

Reuters