Taking the fitness challenge to a new level, president of Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Subhash Barala jumped into a canal in Fatehabad district to show his swimming skill and promote the same as an exercise.
In a 35-second video posted on Twitter, Barala is seen jumping into the canal and swimming against the flow of water. The video ends without showing him coming out of the canal.
Barala tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and state chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar in the video shared as part of the fitness challenge ‘Hum Fit Toh India Fit’ campaign.
In the message posted with the video, Barala wrote, “Swasth sharir pavitra vichar deta hai, aur pavitra vichar sudridh desh ka nirman karta hai (A healthy body inspires noble ideas and noble ideas help in building a strong nation).”
Taking this challenge is seen as image-building exercise by Haryana BJP president whose son Vikas Barala was booked in high-profile stalking case in Chandigarh involving Varnika Kundu, daughter of Haryana IAS office VS Kundu.
The Opposition parties, however, criticised Barala for the act. The Indian National Lok Dal said it was against the law to swim in a canal and the BJP president broke a rule to show his fitness.
On the other hand, the Congress said instead of showing fitness, the BJP should work to fulfill the promises made to the people. The party said as Barala broke the rule by swimming in a canal, it will send a wrong message to the people.
In June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also released video of yoga exercise after Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli challenged the PM. PM Modi posted the video on his Twitter account with ‘Hum Fit Toh India Fit’ tagline.