New Delhi: A video of a man doing dand-baithak, a yoga position similar to burpees, in front of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has gone viral on social media. While some news channels have claimed that the politician is apologising to Yadav in the video, the comments are in disagreement. The real intent behind the act is unknown.
In the clip, the man claims that he can do the exercise 100-200 times. Yadav expresses shock, and the man then begins to demonstrate his claim. He manages to do it 4-5 times, before he is interrupted. He continues to do the sit-ups, until the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister goes to shake his hand. The video is being widely shared online.
A report in Navbharat Times identified the man as Sitaram Yadav, alias Kanhaiya Lal, a resident of Jhansi. It claimed that Lal had recently built a brass statue of former UP CM Mulayam Singh Yadav and arrived in Lucknow to present it to the SP president. During the ceremony, he allegedly claimed that If Mulayam Singh Yadav were alive today, he would offer flowers and bow before him. He then offered flowers to the statue and paid homage by doing the sit-ups.
However, the report is not confirmed.
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Speculation
Users on social media offered varying explanations for the video.
“Akhilesh Yadav is apparently conducting rigorous interviews of ticket seekers for upcoming UP elections,” wrote a user on X.
The sentiment was echoed by a significant number of users who said that bizarre behavior was to impress the leader to get party tickets.
“Aur ye doosro ko andhbhakt kehte hai (And they call others blind-followers),” read a comment on Instagram.
“The politician had brought a statue of Mulayam Singh Yadav ji and then in front of that statue, he did dand baithak in their honor,” explained a comment on X, expressing frustration over the claims.
“Watching that video, one can see how gentle, simple, and affable Shri Akhilesh ji is,” wrote another person on X. He applauded Yadav for indulging the man’s request to demonstrate the exercise and treating the man with respect.
The real reason behind the man’s behavior remains unconfirmed.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)