Ravi Shankar Prasad wields broom to promote cleanliness drive

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday took to wielding a broom to clean the office of the Ministry of Law and Justice in Shastri Bhawan as part of the 'Swachh Bharat Mission' announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the event, Prasad said that a minister holding a broom to clean premises along with the other senior officials is a message of positivity.

"I am happy to be present here before you to participate in this drive along with the other officers. It is not symbolic, but is a new beginning in India to make clean India a mass movement. A minister along with the senior officials holding a broom to clean is also a message of positivity," Prasad said.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to the country to have a clean India by the year 2019, which is the 150 birth anniversary of 'Rashtrapita' Mahatma Gandhi. The cleanliness campaign commenced yesterday on the birthday of Deendayal Upadhyay who is our ideologue and a great Indian," he added

The minister is also slated to participate in the cleanliness drive at Patna railway station on October 2.

Meanwhile, orders have reportedly been issued to the government offices in the capital to remain open on October 2, which is a national holiday, for the employees to come to office and take "Swachchata Shapath" or cleanliness pledge.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called the Cabinet ministers and MPs to participate in the 'Swachh Bharat Mission'. The Prime Minister had also urged the people to devote at least 100 hours every year towards cleanliness.