SITARAM Yechury, CPI(M) general secretary and a member of the consultative committee of the ministry of external affairs wrote a letter to Sushma Swaraj, minister of external affairs on June 8 regarding a poster released by the Overseas Friends of the BJP. The poster is regarding the observations of the International Day of Yoga on June 19, 2016. Yechury said that it is both surprising and objectionable that the poster declares that this event is being supported by the High Commission of India, ministry of external affairs, ministry of ayush and the Indian Council of Cultural Relations. “Supporting activities abroad that strengthen public opinion in those countries about India and spread goodwill is understandable. But so far as I have known, the government of India or its Commissions abroad or any of its other arms and institutions do not support the declared activities of political parties abroad. There have been complaints in the past of how the ruling party at the centre has used subtle methods to promote the activities of their party’s affiliates in these countries. But what we see here is a brazen effort and the public declaration that a voluntary unofficial event is being officially supported by your ministry, its mission in Malaysia and other organisations of the government of India,” he wrote and underlined that this is a very serious matter that needs to be properly investigated. The external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj replied to this letter. She wrote that she has enquired into the matter. “The International Day of Yoga is a government of India initiative that was approved by the United Nations. On or close to June 21, all our Missions and Posts abroad take the initiative to organise yoga demonstrations and events. In the case of Malaysia, our High Commission has done so at the Cheras Indoor Stadium at Kuala Lumpur on June 19, 2016. As per our standard policy, arrangements are being made by the High Commission itself. “I am given to understand that OFBJP, Malaysia, was keen to contribute to this community-driven event organised by the High Commission. Their enthusiasm, while understandable, has however made them to inaccurately project the event as being led by them and supported by the High Commission and government ministries. The flyer has since been withdrawn,” Sushma Swaraj said in the reply. Thanking her for the reply and appreciating her intervention that led to the withdrawal of the flyer, Yechury wrote to her saying, “I hope you are taking the next logical step to punish, in accordance with law, those who have so brazenly misused the offices of your ministry and mission in Malaysia. I am sure that you would strongly convey to the BJP and its affiliates that they should not misuse such government initiatives/programmes for their own partisan propaganda.”