Modi takes cleanliness campaign to ghats in Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday took his cleanliness drive to the ghats of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. He cleaned an area on the banks of river Ganga as a part of the Nirmal Ganga Mission.

He then nominated nine people to spread the message of cleaning the river.

Modi arrived at the Assi Ghat here around 8.40 a.m. amid tight security arrangements.

He prayed at the ghat and performed a puja. Amid chanting of hymns, the prime minister ploughed through an area for well over 10 minutes. He removed silt and dirt accumulated at the river bank. He was joined in by local BJP leaders.

Later talking to reporters, the prime minister nominated nine people and asked them nominate people to spread the message of cleaning up the river.

"I urge everyone to join hands in this noble cause," the prime minister said.

He named Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Chancellor of Chitrakoot Specially Abled University Ram Bhadracharya, Bhojpuri singer and BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, cricketers Mohd Kaif and Suresh Raina, Manu Sharma known for his 'Krishna Atma Katha', Padmashri Sanskrit scholar Devi Prasad Dwivedi, Comic actor Raju Srivastava and singer Kailash Kher.

He also said he has been assured by social organisations of Kashi that the ghats will be cleaned up within a month.