Inauguration of gym marked by controversy over poster

The park adjoining Ulsoor Lake, popular among walkers and laughter clubs, is now an open air gymnasium. On Wednesday, the gymnasium, which sports the latest equipment, was inaugurated.

The project was jointly undertaken by the Bruhath Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Halasuru Lake Residents Welfare Association and realty group RMZ Corp. This is the fifth such outdoor gym in the city.

Imported from Turkey, the equipment in the gym cost over Rs. 20 lakh. It was inaugurated by Rajeev Gowda, Professor of Economics and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

Mr. Gowda said, “These projects show contribution and commitment to fitness and exercise which is much needed in today’s society.”

Enthused Ulsoor residents feel the project would bring people together and would be of help to senior citizens. “Senior citizens would prefer to exercise out in the open rather than in a gym. Also, we want people from all walks of life to come together and utilise this facility,” said Deepak Khatri, a resident of Ulsoor.

Meanwhile, the inauguration saw some tense moments when some political activists, who identified themselves as supporters of area MLA R. Roshan Baig tore down some posters put up by organisers. They claimed that the fact that Mr. Baig’s picture was not on the poster, which featured Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, had angered him and his supporters. Another allegation was that the posters featured the logo of RMZ prominently, while the BBMP logo was either too small or absent.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities / by Staff Reporter / Bangalore – February 06th, 2014