Politicians Wield Broom, Join Modi\'s Nationwide Swachh Drive Ahead of Gandhi Jayanti
New Delhi: On the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday initiated a nation-wide cleanliness drive and pitched for blending fitness and well-being with cleanliness. Thousands of people participated in an hour-long "shramdaan" across the country after the PM made an appeal earlier.
Wielding a broom, the Prime Minister took part in the drive along with fitness influencer Ankit Baiyanpuriya. Sharing a four-minute video on his official X account, Modi posted, "Today, as the nation focuses on Swachhata, Ankit Baiyanpuriya and I did the same! Beyond just cleanliness, we blended fitness and well-being also into the mix. It is all about that Swachh and Swasth Bharat vibe!"
People from all walks of life, from politicians to students, wielded brooms and took part in the "Swachhata hi Seva" campaign in response to the Prime Minister's appeal for cleanliness.
According to the Union housing and urban affairs ministry, more than 9.2 lakh sites across the country have been adopted for the mega drive.
In a recent episode of "Mann Ki Baat", the PM appealed for "one hour of shramdaan (or voluntary labour) for swachhata" on October 1 by all citizens and said it will be a "Swachhanjali" to Mahatma Gandhi on the eve of his birth anniversary.
Union ministers and BJP leaders across the country grabbed brooms and took part in the Swachhata hi Seva campaign.
Wielding a broom, Union home minister Amit Shah participated in a cleanliness drive in Ahmedabad. BJP chief J.P. Nadda took part in the drive in Delhi's Jhandewalan area.
Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath participated in the cleanliness drive, "Swachhata Pakhwada," in Sitapur. And deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak, who took part in a Swachhata Pakhwada in Lucknow, said such events are being organised across the country on the Prime Minister's appeal.
Union power minister R.K. Singh told reporters, "We (the Centre) have taken a resolve to make the country clean. It is a big challenge, but we will do it."
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel participated in a cleanliness drive in Ahmedabad. BJP MP Dinesh Sharma, who also took part in a clean drive, said swachhata has become the face of the country.
Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari volunteered for a cleanliness activity in New Delhi.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi said it held cleanliness drives at 500 locations across the national capital.
Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri, urging people to join the drive, said in a post on X, "Come, let's create a new history! At 10 am today, let's volunteer for an hour, paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi through cleanliness."
"Scan or visit local cleanliness programmes to join. Dream of a #GarbageFreeIndia Together, we'll make it happen," he said.
Cricketers such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also appealed to the people to come together for "Ek Tareekh, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath" and join the largest citizen-led movement to strengthen the resolve towards cleanliness.
BJP MP Meenakashi Lekhi said, "We hope that people stay connected with the Swachh Bharat Mission that was launched by PM Modi."
The Union housing and urban affairs ministry said NGOs, market associations, self-help groups, faith groups, trade bodies and private sector companies, among others, volunteered for the "shramdaan" in more than 22,000 market areas, 10,000 water bodies, 7,000 bus stands and toll plazas, 1,000 gaushalas, 300 zoos and wildlife areas and various other locations in rural and urban India.
Among the states, Uttar Pradesh adopted more than a lakh sites for cleanliness drives, while Maharashtra planned to conduct the programme in over 62,000 locations, including beaches, religious places, schools, colleges and water bodies.
In Telangana, temples of historical significance were cleaned during the drive.
