File photo of Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal
Punjab's ruling allies, the BJP and the Akali Dal, have called truce over the yoga day celebrations.
The Akali Dal's decision came after PM Modi cancelled his proposed visit to the holy city of Anandpur Sahib. Sources said the cancellation had irked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The government changed its mind after the BJP, in a conciliatory gesture, declared that party president Amit Shah, Home minister Rajnath Singh and Haryana chief minister ML Khattar will attend the function instead.
The state government, which was believed to have conveyed to the Centre that it could not force students come to school during their summer vacations, has now decided to hold state-level functions in Amritsar and Fazilka.
A state government circular asking for students' participation in the yoga event, which was not forwarded to schools earlier, has been sent. NDTV has accessed the circular, which asks school children to join the yoga event between 7 and 7.35 am on Sunday.
Ties between the BJP and Akali Dal have been strained over the recent transfer of terrorist Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, a convict in the 1993 Delhi blast, from Tihar jail in the capital to Amritsar. The BJP alleges that it was not consulted on the decision. Bhullar's death sentence was commuted to life by the Supreme Court last year.
Sources say PM Modi cancelled his Punjab visit after BJP leaders from the state discussed the Bhullar row and also expressed concern about what they alleged was the Akali Dal's religious agenda. Recent incidents like the death of a teen molested and thrown from a bus operated by the Badal family have also reportedly rattled the BJP.
The prime minister had accepted Mr Badal's invitation to attend the 350th anniversary on Friday of the holy town. But Punjab has been told that PM Modi has to host the President of Tanzania on the same day.