Enthusiasts throng Ramdev’s yoga camp

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 12

Yoga enthusiasts today descended on the Parade Ground in Sector 5 here to “shake their limbs” with yoga guru Baba Ramdev even as most government functionaries, including legislators and bureaucrats, were conspicuous by their absence on the first day of the yoga training camp organised by the Haryana Sports Department.

In a function which was interrupted by a technical snag that resulted in power failure, people from all walks of life tried to match Ramdev’s flexibility . While they began arriving before 5 am, the slated time for its inauguration by Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, to get a vantage position, they were disappointed since the organisers had streamlined the seating with enclosures earmarked for various categories.However, realising that few of the expected “dignatories” showed up for the programme, these enclosures were opened to the public .

Ministers Kavita Jain, Karan Dev Kamboj and Krishan Bedi, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Sham Singh Rana and Bakshish Singh, besides local legislators Latika Sharma and Gian Chand Gupta attended the camp. Chief Secretary DS Dhesi attended the camp along with senior officers PK Mahapatra and Sunil Gulati.

Sports Minister Anil Vij, the minister of the department organising the camp, chose to underplay the absence of his party MLAs and bureaucrats. “Everybody was busy with the Rajya sabha poll.

We had sent out an invite to everybody and they may join in. Some of them may be participating in such camps being held in districts,” he said.

While Ramdev performed yoga on a raised platform, screens were installed on both sides of the ground to ensure better visibility for those who were seated at the back. The three-day camp will conclude on June 14 and will be attended by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also.