Andhra participates in clean India campaign, Telangana stays away

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government in Telangana stayed away from Swacch Bharat program launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government in neighboring Andhra Pradesh actively participated in it.

E.S.L. Narasimhan, who is governor of both the states, participated in clean India campaign at Raj Bhavan and Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad.

Employees of Andhra Pradesh secretariat in Hyderabad participated in the drive. Special Chief Secretary Lingaraju Panigrahi administered the pledge to the employees.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also took part in some programs in Vijayawada to mark the occasion.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao or his cabinet colleagues did not participate in any programme. However, Telangana Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma administered a pledge to municipal employees at function held at the office of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

Naidu along with union minister Nirmala Sitaraman participated in cleaning of the drains. He also flagged off a rally on the occasion.

Naidu, whose TDP is a partner in Bharataiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) central government, called upon people to spend two hours every week for clean India campaign.

The chief minister, who administered a pledge to the people on cleanliness, said Oct 2 is a sacred day for India as it is the birth anniversary of the father of nation Mahatma Gandhi. He also recalled the contributions of former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri saying he gave the slogan "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'.

Lauding Narendra Modi, the TDP chief said he raised India's stature and prestige in the world.

BJP leaders in Telangana actively participated in clean India campaign in Hyderabad and other parts of the state. Party MP from Secunderabad Bandaru Dattatreya took part in cleaning programme at the Secunderabad railway station.

BJP's Telangana unit chief G. Kishan Reddy and party's floor leader in state assembly K. Laxman participated in various programmes in the city.