Reacting to the state's decision to refrain from celebrating Yoga Day, BJP leader NandKishore Yadav has called it 'petty politics' on Nitish's part.

As the world stretches out to mark the second International Yoga day, Nitish Kumar has decided to stay away from the much talked about event.

According to a Hindustan times report, the Bihar Chief Minister is apparently miffed at the BJP turning a deaf ear to his appeal to PM Modi to impose a nationwide ban on liquor.

Fulfilling an electoral promise, the Bihar chief minister had earlier imposed a ban on liquor sale in Bihar— a move Nitish considers a feather in his cap.

So, Nitish Kumar has instead decided to blow the air out of PM Modi's pet project — glorification of Yoga. Bihar will instead celebrate World Music Day, which coincides with the Yoga day.

However, The Hindustan Times has reported that no special events will be held in the state and the government will stick to the traditional celebrations on the World Music Day.

The duo are known political rivals from the time Modi took the reigns of his party as the CM candidate and JD(U) decided to break free of the NDA alliance, ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Apparently, the BJP is not going to organise any formal Yoga day events in the state but party veterans like Ravi Shankar Prasad, Giriraj Singh and Ram Kripal Yadav will attend different functions being held in the state.

Taking a dig at the grandeur of the preparations, JD(U) spokesperson Sanjay Singh said, "The Centre is spending huge money on promotion of yoga. It has converted yoga into a political ‘akhara’ (wrestling ground), whereas the fact is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using it for self-brandind."

Moreover, Nitish Kumar had also snubbed the event, terming yoga as "irrevelant" and stating that BJP has turned it into a "party affair". "Yoga is a natural treatment process but liquor addicts cannot perform it. Yoga would be irrelevant unless a ban is imposed on sale of liquor across the country," he said.

Reacting to the state's decision to refrain from celebrating Yoga Day, BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav has called it "petty politics" on Nitish's part. The BJP veteran said that Modi has worked to garner international recognition for Yoga while Nitish was indulging in politics.

Nitish Kumar however reasoned, "Yoga's fist principle is abstinence from consumption of liquor, so if you are serious about promoting Yoga then ban the liquor first." "In a democratic system like ours, welfare of the society should be the priority over trade and business," he added.

Nitish Kumar had earlier actively pitched a nation-wide ban on sale of liquor sales, expecting support from Modi. Kumar had said that as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked as the Chief Minister of Gujarat where liquor is banned for a long time it shows he is in favour of it. "I request him to get the liquor ban implemented in at least the BJP-ruled states."

However, the change in the rhetoric was evident as ahead of the Yoga day on Sunday, the Bihar CM said, "Ban on sale of liquor in Gujarat prevailed since Independence and Modi had no role in it. Hence, he should not try to take credit for it."

The BJP has grand plans on promotion and proliferation of Yoga, of which nation-wide public yoga camps on the event are only a part. The Prime Minister has also launched a dedicated website on International Yoga Day that features interactive quizzes and puzzles. The government has also launched postal stamps sporting the 12 postures in Surya Namaskar.

The United Nations has, in December 2014, has adopted a resolution to commemorate 21 June as the World Yoga day.

(With inputs from agencies)