Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal performed yoga on Sunday morning and expressed his opinion on not politicising the ancient Indian knowledge of healthy life. Both Kejriwal and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, albeit on different sides of the road, performed various <g data-gr-id="54">Aasans</g> to mark the International Yoga Day celebration at Rajpath, on Sunday morning.
“Yoga is a good thing. Everyone should do it,” said Kejriwal. The Chief Minister said that he finds it a great stress-buster.
“There should not be politics over yoga. It is for physical well-being and mental concentration,” he told media. Kejriwal was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who also performed various <g data-gr-id="47">Aasans</g> beside him.
Kejriwal and Jung were seated in an enclosure on the other side of the boulevard and the two did not exchange pleasantries. Their presence generated much interest as they both are engaged in a bitter power tussle in Delhi. The leaders also did not exchange words with the Prime Minister and left the venue after the event.
Delhi government did not organise any separate event to celebrate the World Yoga Day and no directions were issued to the schools or government departments in this regard.
“We had not made it compulsory for anybody,” said spokesperson of Delhi government. Kejriwal, who had undergone naturopathy treatment in the recent past, was seen actively performing the <g data-gr-id="44">aasans</g>.
Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party, however, use the term-<g data-gr-id="55">Vipasana</g> for these <g data-gr-id="56">Aasans</g>. In April this year, Delhi government had also announced ‘Vipasana’ training for its school teachers, aimed at lowering their stress level and helping them inculcate “values” among students.
The International Yoga Day was, however, celebrated with much fervour in the city as besides MCDs, DDA, NDMC and various NGOs also organised such event. South MCD organised Yoga Day celebrations in <g data-gr-id="66">Tyag</g> Raj Stadium in Lodhi Colony which was attended by New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi and South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri, South MCD mayor Subhash Arya, Leader of House Ashish Sood, senior officers and students of South MCD schools.
“We have selected 400 students to perform yoga in the stadiums and around 4,000 students enjoyed the event as audiences,” said spokesperson of South DMC. “In today’s environment to get relief from stress, yoga is an important stress buster. It will help in keeping our society healthy,” said Bidhuri.
Delhi Development Authority also celebrated Yoga Day in all its sports complexes and at various <g data-gr-id="64">Raahagiri</g> centres at Rohini, Dwarka and East Delhi. “Participation from all nearby residents, apart from the members of the respective complexes, was allowed. More than 12000 people participated at various sports complexes and in addition thousands of residents participated at various <g data-gr-id="65">Raahagiri</g> Centres,” said spokesperson of DDA. DDA vice chairman Balvinder Kumar himself was present at the Siri Fort Sports Complex. The event was followed by ‘laughter therapy competition’.