Cultural nationalism of 80s gaining ground: Advani on Yoga Day

On the Yoga Day, BJP patriarch Lal Krishna Advani today said cultural nationalism invoked by BJP in the late eighties, which had catapulted the party from two to 86 seats in Parliament, has started gaining ground in the country and its impact is clearly visible.

He was here to participate in a Yoga camp organised by Himachal Yoga and Naturopathy Research Foundation Kayakalp, headed by former BJP chief minister Shanta Kumar.

Advani recalled how the BJP national executive at its meeting at Palampur in 1989 passed the resolution in favour of Ram temple at Ayodhya and sticking to cultural nationalism increased the strength of BJP from two members to 86 members under his presidentship.

The former deputy prime minister said that the situation has taken "a turn and today Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading a BJP majority government at the Centre."

Lauding the efforts of the Prime Minister to popularise Yoga, Advani said that Yoga centres like Kayakalp should be set up across the state for wellness of people.

Kayakalp has increased the importance of Palampur as a centre of Yoga and naturopathy and more such centres would do good to the people, he said.

On the occasion, Advani asked the media to report the facts and said that the reporting should be based on facts and not on convenience.

Before leaving for Delhi, the BJP leader said he regretted that he could not attend the birthday celebrations of Tibetan spiritual head the Dalai Lama due to preoccupations.

Advani was chief guest at the week-long Yoga camp in which over 1,500 people practised Yoga daily. The camp concluded today.

Swami Subodhanand of Chinmay Tapovan Trust, who presided over the function, said,"cultural nationalism" was rooted in philosophy, culture and traditions of India and our rishis and sages have been propagating it since time immemorial.

"This was essential for nation building and strengthening the cultural identify but in the recent times we have forgotten the old philosophers and saints and started following the Godmen emerging in past three four centuries," said Swami Subodhanand.

Yoga is not only a physical exercise but a complete mental science that relaxes the body and mind and makes a person fit for physical and mental activity without any stress, he added.

An old Dalit woman, Bindu Devi, was honoured on the occasion for supporting the initiative to set up Kayakalp.

In spite of being a woman of limited means, she contributed her entire savings amounting about Rs 11,000 for setting up Yoga and Naturopathy research centre, Shanta Kumar said.