Yoga is not a political issue, says Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said Yoga is not a political issue, but it is a medium to keep one healthy.

"Yoga is not a political issue," 61-year-old Khattar said here.

Speaking this morning after performing Yoga at his residence here, Khattar said for him Yoga is a way of life since 1977-78 and it was because of Yoga that he is able to put in long hours of work daily.

The BJP Government in Haryana is holding a state level function at Karnal tomorrow as part of International Yoga Day celebrations.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister announced to implement a number of schemes for promotion of Yoga, AYUSH and traditional games so as to improve the quality of health of the people.

He said a Yoga and Naturopathy Institute of international level would be set up at Panchkula.

"While Swami Ramdev Ji has been made brand ambassador for promotion of Yoga and Ayurveda, Yogshalas would be set up in each village in a phased manner. To begin with, in the first phase, more than 1,000 such Yogshalas are being set up during this year," he said.

Apart from imparting training in Yoga in these Yogshalas, training in five regional games would also be provided.

All primary health centres would have a unit of AYUSH and Shri Krishna Ayurvedic Government College would be upgraded as AYUSH University, he said.

Also, the state would have world's first herbal forest, he added.

Khattar said that Yoga coaches, Physical Training Instructors working in schools, teachers and Anganwadi workers would be imparted training at Patanjali Yogapeeth in Haridwar.

Refresher courses would also be got conducted there for Ayurvedic doctors, he said.

"Yoga training would also be imparted in schools, colleges and universities. The target of the state government is to develop Haryana as a capital of Yoga and Ayurveda in the world," the Chief Minister said.

While urging the people to understand the significance of Yoga in life, the Chief Minister said that they should enthusiastically take part in the programmes being organised across the state on International Yoga Day tomorrow.

He said that more than one lakh persons would take part in Yoga programmes to be organised on International Yoga Day at various places in the State.

"About 21,000 persons would participate in a function to be held at Karnal. As many as 60 Yoga programmes would be held at sub division level tomorrow," he added.