Nitin Gadkari praises Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishana

Haridwar, Aug 5: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today heaped praise on Yoga guru Ramdev's aide Acharya Balkrishna for his contribution to the "unification" of Yoga and Ayurveda, thus popularising them all over the world.

"By simplifying yoga and unifying it with ayurveda, Acharya Balkrishna had made them more useful for the common man not only in India but all over the world," Gadkari said while speaking at a function here today to mark Balkrishna's birthday.

Crediting both Ramdev and Balkrishna for their efforts to enhance the prestige of yoga and ayurveda across the globe, the Union minister said the two disciplines are generating job opportunities for both farmers and youth.

Ramdev said the country will soon earn the glory of celebrating Acharya's birthday as "World Herbal Day" (Vishwa Jadi-Booti Diwas). He also said that Patanjali will soon become a company with an annual turnover of Rs 50,000 crore as plans were afoot to set up mega food parks in at least five cities including Nagpur, Indore and Noida.

Several programmes were held at Patanjali Yogpeeth to celebrate Acharya's birthday including yog-pranayam sessions and distribution of thousands of tree and herbs saplings free of cost among people. A large number of saints and seers from Haridwar were present.

PTI