Senior BJP leader Advani performs Yoga at Palampur

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishan Advani on Sunday took on to Yoga mat in a camp organised at Palampur town of Kangra district, to mark the inaugural International Yoga Day.

Advani, who is now the member of Margadarshak Mandal of the saffron party, had arrived here on invitation of senior BJP leader and Kangra MP Shanta Kumar.

The camp was organised by Kayakalp -- a Research Institute for Yoga and Naturopathy, headed by Shanta Kumar. Over 500 people participated in the camp organised at Kayakalp’s Parinay Hall.

“Yoga will pave the way for India becoming a world leader in cultural nationalism,” said the senior leader, adding that many leaders in the past have made contribution to promote yoga and it’s those efforts that today 177 nations were observing the International Yoga Day.

He later addressed the party workers in a function held at Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University (HPAU) Auditorium.

Taking a stroll down the memory lane, Advani said Palampur holds a special place in his life. “I along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Palampur in 1989 for the party’s national executive meet. General elections were held shortly. I was president and we had won 76 seats and after a few years later we formed the government which was led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He said Palampur also has importance for the party because the resolution to build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was passed in the same national executive meet.

Advani said he was visiting the town again on invitation of Shanta Kumar. He hailed Shanta’s dream project the Vivkananda Medical Research Institute and Hospital and modern healthcare facilities being provided in it.

He also honoured a woman Chambo Devi, who had donated Rs 11,000 for the project, while working as a domestic help in the 90s.