CHANDIGARH (Balwinder Singh): Top federal ministers and members of Parliament marked the 12th International Yoga Day by participating in district-level events across Haryana, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi with transforming the ancient Indian discipline into a global mass movement. Speaking at various venues, leadership emphasized that yoga extends beyond physical exercise, serving as a holistic methodology to unite the mind, body, and soul.
Attending the district-level celebrations in Karnal as the chief guest, Union Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal stated that yoga must become a permanent fixture of daily life rather than a single-day observance. He noted that the continuous practice of yoga is the most accessible means to maintain physical and mental well-being. Lal praised Prime Minister Modi’s diplomatic initiatives, recalling how the United Nations General Assembly in December 2014 adopted the International Yoga Day resolution with an unprecedented consensus from 193 members and a record 177 co-sponsoring nations. The Union Minister acknowledged the legacy of historical figures like Maharishi Patanjali and contemporary leaders like Swami Ramदेव for preserving the knowledge, expressing satisfaction that competitive yoga has earned India 114 medals globally in the past year.
Similarly, Union Minister of State for Co-operation Krishan Pal Gurjar addressed a major gathering in Palwal, noting that the Prime Minister successfully connected global citizens to India’s cultural heritage. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Barala spoke in Jhajjar, calling yoga an invaluable gift of Indian culture that fosters deep mental concentration and resilience, urging the youth to reject substance abuse in favour of constructive national development. In Sonipat, Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma described Maharishi Patanjali as the spiritual father of yoga and lauded Prime Minister Modi as the pioneer of its modern global renaissance, successfully moving the practice from ancient texts and ashrams directly to the global public.
