PM watches live performance of jail inmates

LUCKNOW: The third International Yoga Day was quite special for the specially-abled students of Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, Lucknow.

On Wednesday, despite heavy rain, these students remained at the Ramabai Ambedkar ground to perform yoga with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP CM Yogi Adityanath and other dignitaries. They said it was fun to do yoga with big wigs.

Abhishek Kumar, visually impaired student of the varsity said, “We were all drenched and shivering, but did not leave the field because we wanted to tell one and all that we are no different from them.”

Another student Raj Bharati who suffers with poor vision said, “We are happy to be here. Yoga keeps both your body and mind fit.”

They were among the 100 students selected to perform yoga with the PM on the Yoga day.

“This was a big honour for me. It was an opportunity to prove that we are not inferior from those who can see,” said Ram, an undergraduate student of the university.

The specially-abled students started the yoga practice 3 weeks ago on the university campus. Vice-chancellor of the varsity, Nishith Rai said, “Yoga instructor Vinod Kumar Yadav trained them as per the need and constraints of the students. The move is an endeavour to empower them and make them feel that they too are a part of the mainstream society.”