Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, June 21: Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States, and Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Jitendra Singh today exuded confidence that India will lead the world in every sphere of development like it has proved its capacity to lead the world in the sphere of Yoga.
Speaking on the occasion of International Yoga Day at MA Stadium here this morning, the Union Minister said that this message should go loud and clear far and wide that “Just as India has led the world in Yoga, let us pledge that India will also lead the world in every other sphere of development”, .
Terming the celebrations of International Yoga Day as historical for three reasons, Dr Singh said first the yoga has originated from India, second the international Yoga Day celebrations also started from India with the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and for the first time India got Youth Services and Sports and Nehru Yuva Kendra involved in yoga.
“It is a matter of dual pride”, said Dr Jitendra Singh, that “India gave Yoga to world and Narendra Modi gave International Yoga Day to world, because it was he, as Prime Minister, who placed this proposal before United Nations, which was accepted by a record number of 177 UN members”.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, International Yoga Day is no longer confined to Yoga alone, but this day has assumed a larger and a far more significant role of uniting the entire mankind and, therefore, can also be described as “International Unity Day”. Regardless of nationality, religion, cult, ideology or language, diverse nations on this planet have come together to practice Yoga, at the same time, on the same day, at the behest of India and on the call of the Indian Prime Minister.
He said there are no boundaries for practising Yoga it can be performed from Kashmir to Saudi Arabia and Far East as Yoga is not for a specific religion or region.
Complimenting Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and Nehru Yuva Kendra, Dr Singh said, this is for the first time that this Ministry has undertaken an initiative at such a large scale. He informed that through the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and Nehru Yuva Kendra, simultaneous Yoga programmes are being held today across the country at 1,00,000 villages, 250 districts and mega events at 10 cities including Jammu, Varanasi, Imphal, Vadodara, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Vijaywada, Bhubaneshwar, Shimla and Hoshiarpur.
He said it is for the first time that Jammu is celebrating the International Yoga Day on such a large scale. He regretted that no initiative was made after independence for popularising yoga in the country and perhaps nation was waiting for a Prime Minister like Narendra Modi will come to take an initiative to popularise it otherwise the Governments were there before him too.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the Yoga binds entire nation in one fabric and it should not be called as International Yoga Day but International Jansamparakh Divas. Through yoga India brought entire world in one fabric and it will have good results in future, he added.
Taking a dig at those who have created controversy on the name of Yoga, Dr Singh said those who don’t know meaning of Yog are indulging in such controversies as it is beyond the bondages of religion and has a universal impact, he added.
In his capacity as Diabetologist or medical specialist of Diabetes, Dr Jitendra Singh also referred to at least 10 Yoga Asanas which have been universally acknowledged for control of diabetes. These include Pranayam, Setubandhasana, Balasana, Vajrasana, Sarvangasana, Halasana, Dhanurasana, Chakrasana, Paschimotasana and Ardh-Matsyendrasana, he added.
Dr Singh later while talking to reporters took a dig at Congress for saying that Government permitted 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in hurry. Terming it a good decision of the Modi Government, he said it is not Congress but BJP which is running the Government.
Health Minister Bali Bhagat, who was also present on the occasion, said that similar programme is also being held in Bakshi Stadium at Srinagar and different district headquarters in the State.
He said many programmes were held for making preparations for the Yoga Day and power point presentation was also given in Srinagar in this regard.
Maintaining that Yog is purely related to Science Bali Bhagat said it is not linked to any religion. It keeps one fit and diseases at bay. There is no good procedure than Yog to keep oneself healthy, he added.
He said the second Yoga Divas is being celebrated world wide due to the efforts of PM who brought a resolution in UNO in which 195 nations took part and 177 endorsed it and presently all 177 nations are practising yoga all over world.
Minister of Industries and Commerce Chander Prakash Ganga while eulogizing the role of Bharatiya Yoga Sansthan said it is doing good work in the field of Yoga and added this mission was further taken forward by Yoga Guru Ram Dev who in real sense did its marketing.
Also present on the occasion were Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma, All India Director General Nehru Yuva Kendra Major General (Retd) Dilawar Singh, Yoga Guru Karan, Yoga Expert Dr. T.R. Raina and senior BJP leaders Chandra Mohan Sharma, Pramod Kapahi, Vikram Randhawa, Sanjeev Sharma and others.
The major attraction of today’s Yoga Divas was participation of differently abled special children of Sahyog India. They also welcomed the chief guest Dr Jitendra Singh.
These differently abled children are specially invited to participate in this mega yog event as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Yoga Guru Ram Dev have special focus on these children as they are the unique asset of the society.
However, at the end of the function when Dr Singh was talking to reporters the roof of the stage fell down due to heavy rain. However, all the dignitaries as well as media persons were safe.
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