Govt employee ties shoelace of UP minister at Yoga Day event

Shahjahanpur : UP cabinet minister Laxmi Narayan drew criticism after a government employee was seen tying his shoelace at a yoga day event in Shahjahanpur on Friday. The minister was attending the event as a chief guest.

Defending himself, the minister said, "Agar koi bhaiya, bhatija ya parivaar ka vyakti humein yadi joota pehna de, toh ye toh hamara vo desh hai jahan Bhagwan Ram ke khadau rakh ke Bharat ji ne 14 saal raj kiya tha, aapko toh is baat ki tareef karni chahiye. (You should appreciate it. This is our country where Bharat had ruled for 14 years by placing Rama’s ‘Khadau’)."

Earlier, on the Independence Day, Odisha cabinet minister Jogendra Behera had faced flak due to a similar action. His personal security officer (PSO) was seen tying his shoelace at the event.

After local news channels aired the video, the state Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises minister said, “I am a VIP. I have hoisted the flag, he (PSO) has not done it.”