New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Cabinet minister Laxmi Narayan faced flak after a government employee was seen tying his shoelace at a yoga day event in Shahjahanpur on Friday. The minister was the chief guest in the Yoga Day celebration at the OCF field, about 170 kms from state capital Lucknow. Also Read - India's Covid Vaccine Latest News: Phase-3 Trial of Covaxin to Begin in UP's Lucknow, Gorakhpur From October

The minister has defended his actions after a video of the incident went viral. He 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’).” Also Read - Uttar Pradesh News: International Flights to Start From Kushinagar Airport by Diwali, Announces CM Yogi

Earlier, Odisha cabinet minister Jogendra Behera had faced criticism from different quarters after his personal security officer (PSO) was seen tying his shoelaces during Independence Day celebration in Keonjhar. 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.”