I&B Minister urges people to get fit, fitter

Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Tuesday appealed to the people to get fit and fitter and posted photos and videos on his exercise regime on the social media to inspire others to follow his advice.

"Our Prime Minister is an inspiration. He has tremendous energy and works tirelessly and he wants the people of India to get fit. Taking some inspiration from him, even I included some exercises in my daily schedule. Make a video, click a picture, and paste it on the social media. Let this #HumFitTohIndiaFit campaign start a fitness movement in India," the 2004 Olympics silver medal winner said.

To keep the fitness campaign going, the Olympian shooter challenged Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan, cricketer Virat Kohli and badminton player Saina Nehwal to post their respective fitness mantras on the social media.

"Post pictures and videos of how you keep yourself fit and send a #FitnessChallenge to your friends on social media. Here's my video and I challenge @iHrithik, @imVkohli & @NSaina to join in."

Accepting the challenge, Saina posted a video clipping of herself doing the deadlifts. She further challenged actor Rana Dagubatti, ace shuttler P.V. Sindhu and former cricketer Gautam Gambhir to join the fitness campaign.

Rathore's followers also took on the challenge and posted their workout regimes on Twitter.

Subhrajeet Choudhury wrote: "When a Union Minister takes up such challenge with enviable zeal and enthusiasm, we must salute his spirit and wholeheartedly participate for the success of #HumFitTohIndiaFit. #respect"

In a video clipping posted by him on his Twitter handle, Rathore can be seen doing some push-ups while appealing to start a fitness movement.

Sharing the Minister's tweet, Shilpi Tiwari wrote: "Very noticeable that the Minister shot his own video just like any of us would do... nothing fancy... (remember he has the whole infrastructure at his call) The focus is on the message... #HumFitTohIndiaFit So what's your fitness mantra? Little things count..."

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Manoj Tiwari also took up the challenge, and showed his flexibility with some leg stretches and push-ups.

RJ Raunac tweeted: "First thing in the morning tomorrow on @RedFMIndia, all the radio jockeys and Delhi NCR listeners would be joining in, will share videos asap #HumFitTohIndiaFit."

Anil Kumar Sharma posted a photo of himself on a bicycle, describing his daily morning workout of 45 minutes.

Rathore was quick to reply to all the tweets and urged everyone to share their pictures and videos of workouts, tag friends and make the campaign a success.

--IANS

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