The North News
Shimla, September 18
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for a cleaner India was highlighted in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) marked Seva Pakhwada to celebrate his birthday. State BJP president Rajeev Bindal led a cleanliness campaign at the Kali Bari temple complex in Shimla, joined by party workers. Sharing details, Rajeev Bindal said Prime Minister Modi had given the nation the message of cleanliness through the Swachh Bharat Mission, providing toilets to more than 12 crore families.
He urged workers to take this mission further so that “every home, every village and every city” is covered. He also announced that BJP will launch a Swadeshi Abhiyan on September 25, the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. The initiative, he said, would encourage people to buy indigenous products, strengthen domestic industries and boost the economy. Bindal praised the recent GST relief announced by Modi, describing it as a significant step to provide respite from inflation.
Turning to state politics, the BJP chief criticised the Congress-led government, saying it had failed to restore roads, power and drinking water supply after the natural disasters that began on 30 June. He claimed the Centre had provided ample support but the state government was still “on the back foot” in relief and rehabilitation. “The state government must open its coffers for the people during this crisis, just as the Centre has extended full support,” Bindal said.
BJP workers across the state joined similar activities under Seva Pakhwada, including cleanliness drives, health check-ups and public outreach programmes.
