Kathmandu, June 22: Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has claimed that Yoga originated in Nepal, not in India. At the time when Yoga came into existence, India was not around.

“Yoga originated in Nepal, not in India. When Yoga came into existence, India was not around as it was divided into various factions,” Oli said.

He made the statement while addressing a program held at his residence on the occasion of International Yoga Day on Monday.

India that exists now wasn’t there in the past, India at that time was divided into factions like a continent or sub-continent. Therefore, Yoga originated in Nepal but we were unable to make it popular, he said.

International Yoga Day is being celebrated on June 21 since 2021 and on Monday the world celebrated the day with full enthusiasm despite Covid-19 pandemic.