Karna CM, deputy skip yoga events

As International Yoga Day was celebrated across the country, it did not figure much in the scheme of things of the JDS-Congress coalition government in Karnataka with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy not taking part in any yoga events in the city.

Deputy chief minister G Parameshwara too did not take part in any yoga event.

Barring a message on microblogging site twitter, Kumaraswamy's itinerary for the day did not have any mention about participation in any yoga event.

In his message carrying his picture doing Pranayama, Kumaraswamy said Yoga has been very much a part of his family as his father, wife and others regularly practise it.

"Yoga is a gift from India to the world. Recognising the importance of yoga, the United Nations too made arrangements to organise 'World Yoga Day'. It has also given an insight into the yoga tradition existing in India," Kumaraswamy said.

"Kumaraswamy did not perform any yoga but he did visit a school managed by Adi Chunchanagiri Math in Ramanagar district. He also gave a message," said an officer in the Department of Information and Public Relations.

The picture that was shared on social media was about his presence among visually impaired children.

Parameshwara's twitter handle did not have any message or pictures on the day, although he is quite active on social media.

Kumaraswamy's octogenarian father and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda demonstrated his yoga skills befitting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's fitness challenge.

After doing exercises for loosening muscle stiffness around his shoulder joints, leg joints and ankle joints, he performed Paada-hastasana, Markatasana and Pavanamuktasana.

On the other hand, yoga fever was high at the BJP headquarters where BJP leaders and workers led by state president B S Yeddyurappa performed asanas.

Later, sharing the photos on Facebook, Yeddyurappa said "Celebrated International Yoga Day at Malleshwaram, Yoga is a way to have a divine lifestyle and also strengthen mind body & soul."