Narendra Modi "Only PM Who Made Cleanliness A Mass Movement": Amit Shah

On Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave a clarion call to shun single-use plastic while urging citizens to take an initiative to make this a mass movement.

After flagging off the party's 'Gandhi Sankalp Yatra' on Gandhi Jayanti, Amit Shah, along with Delhi BJP leaders, undertook a 'padyatra' amid tight security.

Before participating in the march, Amit Shah, in a meeting highlighted the perils of single-use plastic, saying it takes nearly 400 years for the plastic to degrade.

Amit Shah said even animals are adversely affected due to single-use plastic.

"It is the responsibility of BJP workers and people of country to make it a mass movement. Single-use plastic is dangerous to the country and the world," he said.

Mr Shah said the Narendra Modi government has organised several events to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi to re-establish his values and principles in the country.

"Today is the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi ji who not only played a vital role in getting the country its Independence but he also displayed to the world the power of satyagrah," the Home Minister said.

"Mahatma Gandhi was the ambassador of cleanliness and after independence, PM Modi is the only Prime Minister who has made it a mass movement," Mr Shah said.

He said PM Modi has worked to take the concept of cleanliness to the grassroots level.

Amit Shah said the party's elected representatives will undertake the 'padyatra' for the next 15 days to take forward Mahatma Gandhi's values and principles among the masses.

Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari and Union Minister Harsh Vardhan were also present at the event. The BJP had earlier said the party's MPs, MLAs, other elected representatives and office-bearers would join the march in different parts of the country today.