Guv, union ministers lead 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations in K’taka

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Bengaluru, June 21 (IANS) The 11th International Day of Yoga was celebrated with much fervour across Karnataka as lakhs of people, including the Governor, union and state ministers, legislators, actors and students, participated in events organised to mark the occasion across the state.

Governor Gehlot took part in the event organised by the Government of Karnataka in front of the Vidhana Soudha, along with MLAs, MLCs, and ministers.

Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution, and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi performed Yoga at the famous tourist site Pattadakallu, home to Chalukyan-era temples recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Railways V. Somanna took part in Yoga Day celebrations at the historical site of Halebidu in Hassan district.

Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje participated in the event organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India at the Tipu Summer Palace in Bengaluru, which is a designated archaeological site.

Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner and BJP leader Bhaskar Rao also joined the event alongside Shobha Karandlaje.

Speaking to the media, Shobha Karandlaje said, “Today marks the 11th International Day of Yoga. Thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. Every year, this day is celebrated across the globe.”

“Yoga Day is observed in 180 countries and at over 12 lakh locations. It’s heartening to see foreigners come to India to learn yoga, and after learning, they return to their countries to teach it. Similarly, many Indians have gone abroad to spread yoga. Today, yoga is not limited to India — it is known and practiced around the world. Whether it is yoga, Ayurveda, or millets, we want to share them with the world.”

“Our Prime Minister didn’t think only of India, but of contributing to global health. Many leaders, NGOs, teachers, and volunteers are participating in today’s events. I thank them all,” she added.

The Karnataka BJP unit celebrated the occasion in front of its office, Jagannath Bhavan, in Bengaluru. Kannada film actress Sudharani and actor Komal participated in the event along with thousands of others.

Speaking to the media, State BJP President Vijayendra said, “Renowned Yoga guru Raghavendra Pai is leading today’s celebrations. Yoga promotes both physical and mental fitness and helps us lead a healthy life.”

Governor Gehlot urged people to practice yoga to lead a healthy life. Chairperson of the Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti stated that yoga should be made compulsory in primary and high schools, and that he would discuss the matter with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

“I will begin practicing yoga regularly from tomorrow. Yoga must be made compulsory for students from Class 1 to Class 10,” Horatti said.

–IANS

mka/rad

Related Posts

Delhi PWD van carries CM Atishi’s posters; FIR registered in Kalkaji on BJP’s complaint

New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) The Delhi BJP on Tuesday accused Chief Minister Atishi and her party colleagues of using government vehicles for personal campaign even as the Kalkaji District Election Officer (DEO) got an FIR registered for misuse of a PWD van for carrying the CM’s posters.

Addressing a press conference, South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri alleged that the BJP’s district vice-president in Kalkaji detected a van on January 7 delivering posters and flags of CM Atishi at her office in Govindpuri Gali number 30.

“The AAP, which claims to be an honest party, is indulging in such gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct. There is a huge difference in their words and practice,” said Bidhuri, claiming that the area where the incident took place falls in his parliamentary constituency.

The Govindpuri incident took place after the Model Code of Conduct kicked in with announcement of polls on January 7, he said.

In her defence, CM Atishi denied any wrongdoing and alleged there was pressure on lower-level election officials to act against the AAP, while questions were also being raised on who the police are favouring.

“When we give a complaint against the BJP’s New Delhi candidate Parvesh Verma distributing freebies no action is taken, saying an enquiry is underway. But in my case, an FIR has been registered even without an enquiry,” she told reporters after filing her nomination papers.

Earlier, Bidhuri said, “The PWD van was caught red-handed by BJP district vice-president K.S. Duggal who brought the matter to the notice of the senior leader and a complaint was filed before the DEO.”

“A complaint has been filed against Atishi, and she should take moral responsibility and quit politics and withdraw from the Assembly election contest in Kalkaji constituency,” he said.

“The AAP levels false allegations against BJP leaders which have not been proven correct. But we ensure that every complaint filed by the BJP reaches its logical conclusion,” he said.

Sanket Gupta, a member of the BJP’s legal cell, said the crime was grave as Atishi is a Chief Minister.

“The incident is a reflection of the AAP’s double standards. Such a grave violation of the MCC was done by Atishi even before filing her nomination papers,” he said.

“The ECI says that government transport including official aircraft, vehicles and machinery, including personnel, shall not be used for the furtherance of the interest of the party in power,” he said.

After an enquiry, the Kalkaji SHO has booked PWD engineer Sanjay Kumar. “Atishi’s name will also be included in the FIR,” he said.

“We request the ECI to take immediate action against such misuse of official machinery in all parts of Delhi,” he said.

–IANS

rch/rad

Allahabad HC grants interim anticipatory bail to Lucknow University prof booked over post on Pahalgam attack

Lucknow, June 9 (IANS) The Allahabad High Court on Monday granted interim anticipatory bail to Dr Madri Kakoti, an Assistant Professor in the Linguistics Department of Lucknow University, who was booked by the Uttar Pradesh Police for her social media post reportedly concerning the deadly terror Pahalgam attack.

KaKoti approached the Allahabad High Court after a court in Lucknow rejected her anticipatory bail plea in connection with the FIR registered against her under Sections 197(1), 353 (2), 196(1) (a) 352, 302, 152 of the Bhartiya Nyay Samhita (B.N.S) and Section 69A of the I.T. Act.

She apprehended her arrest for the reason that an offence invoked in the FIR by the police is cognizable and is punishable up to life imprisonment, and the police are making every endeavour to arrest the applicant in the instant case.

In her anticipatory bail plea, Kakoti contended that although the offence was registered on the basis of an alleged online post, the same has not even been mentioned or reproduced in the FIR, adding that the omission raised “serious questions about the legality and fairness of the registration of the FIR”.

“The FIR fails to mention even a single actual quote or post, despite the allegation resting entirely on the applicant’s digital expressions,” said Kakoti’s plea.

In her tweet, Kakoti allegedly said: “Shooting someone after asking about their religion is terrorism. Lynching someone after asking about their religion, firing them from their job after asking about their religion, not giving them a house after asking about their religion, bulldozing a house after asking about their religion, etc. is also terrorism. Recognize the real terrorist.”

The complainant, an office bearer of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), alleged that the varsity professor, through her social media account (@ms_medusssa), made anti-national and communally inflammatory remarks following the terrorist incident in J&K’s Pahalgam.

–IANS

pds/vd

Delhi CM Atishi files nomination from Kalkaji Assembly seat

New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister and AAP candidate from Kalkaji Assembly constituency, Atishi, officially filed her nomination papers on Monday for the upcoming Assembly elections.

Ahead of filing her nomination, Chief Minister Atishi visited the Kalkaji Temple to offer prayers and seek blessings.

Sharing her plans earlier in the day, Chief Minister Atishi posted on X, “I am going to file my nomination today. I will visit the Kalkaji Temple to take the blessings of Kalka Mai. After praying at the Giri Nagar Gurudwara, I will begin the nomination rally. Over the last five years, I have received immense love from my Kalkaji family. I am confident their blessings will continue to guide me.”

In a bid to garner support for her campaign, CM Atishi had launched a crowdfunding initiative on Sunday, emphasising her party’s commitment to “politics of work and honesty.”

During a press conference, she provided an online donation link and revealed that she needed Rs 40 lakh to finance her election campaign.

“The AAP has always relied on small contributions from the common people to fight elections, enabling us to pursue transparent and honest politics,” CM Atishi stated.

She further said that over the past five years, “you have supported me as an MLA, a minister, and now as the Chief Minister of Delhi. This journey would not have been possible without your unwavering blessings and trust.”

CM Atishi faces competition in Kalkaji from BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri and the Congress’ Alka Lamba.

The elections for all 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly are scheduled for February 5, with vote counting slated for February 8.

The AAP, which achieved a landslide victory in 2015 by winning 67 seats and retained dominance with 62 seats in 2020, is aiming for a third-consecutive term in Delhi.

Meanwhile, the BJP, which secured three seats in 2015 and increased its tally to eight in 2020, is looking to expand its foothold. The Congress, however, has yet to regain a presence in the Assembly, having drawn a blank in the last two elections.

–IANS

sd/rad