PM Modi launches Swachh Bharat mission

On Mahatma Gandhi’s 145th birth anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday kicked off Clean India or Swachh Bharat mission by sweeping a pavement at Valmiki Basti in the capital.

Urging people to pay their tribute to Gandhi who “gave us the message ‘Quit India, Clean India'” by cleaning every corner of the country.

Modi read out a pledge for cleanliness on the launching occasion of India’s biggest ever cleanliness drive “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” from Rajpath. Over 30 lakh government employees have joined today in this mission across the country.

Praising former governments, NGOs and other organizations, the Prime Minister said that the campaign should be kept beyond politics.

“Swachh Bharat mission is beyond politics. It is inspired by patriotism and not politics. I do not make any claim that only this government has done everything. All governments have done something or the other to achieve cleanliness in the country. I greet all of them for this,” Modi said.

Modi also nominated 9 people to work towards a Clean India and urged them to invite 9 more to make this chain forward.

“I have invited Mridula Sinha ji, Sachin Tendulkar, yoga guru Ramdev, Shashi Tharoor, Kamal Haasan, Priyanka chopra, Salman Khan, team of Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma, Anil Ambani,” he said.

‘Why Clean India’ picture. pic.twitter.com/r4PtsxqbZC

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2014

“It is every individual’s responsibility to keep the country clean. We should pledge that neither will we throw garbage nor will let anyone do it,” he said.

“It takes time to change established mindset. It is a difficult task. But we have five years,” Modi added.

Actor and filmmaker Aamir Khan said he will be glad to be a brand ambassador for this mission.

“I would be very happy if I am given this responsibility,” Aamir Khan said, adding, “If there is cleanliness, many problems are solved. People’s health improves, the water bodies are clean automatically… So I appeal to the people, every Indian should cooperate.”.

“It is a beautiful thought that the prime minister has come up with. We must ensure the dream of a clean India is realised before the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi,” Aamir said.

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