‘Litter Thrown to Stage Drama’: Cong on PM Modi Plogging in TN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi picked up garbage on the beach outside the Taj Fisherman’s Cove, Kovalam.
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The Congress' Tamil Nadu unit on Sunday, 13 October, took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi plogging on the beach at Mamallapuram on Saturday, wondering if it was 'drama' since the entire area had been cleaned up ahead of his visit, PTI reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, had gone plogging (collecting garbage while on a walk or a run) on the beach outside the Taj Fisherman's Cove Resort and Spa, where he was staying.
While taking an early morning walk barefoot on the sand, he held a large plastic bag and picked up plastic litter. Keeping up with his Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, the Prime Minister tweeted urging people to keep public places clean. He had also uploaded a three-minute video on Twitter where he was seen plogging.
Congress Takes Swipe at Modi
On Sunday, TNCC President K S Alagiri spoke about the three-minute video by Modi, saying that the Prime Minister showed keenness in the Swachch Bharat initiative by doing so, PTI reported.
However, he also pointed out that since Modi's visit was planned in advance, all sanitation work had been diligently carried out at the hotel zone where he stayed, and even the beach had been cleaned by conservancy staff using machines.
"After (all) this, there is no chance of the area getting littered. Then how did suddenly waste emerge during his (morning) walk? If there indeed had been litter, doesn't it show the state government's apathy," Alagiri said in a statement, according to PTI.
On 11 August, Modi held the second informal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Mamallapuram. The two leaders have discussed economic issues, the trade deficit, and the common challenges the two countries face from terrorism. The two leaders are set to hold more meetings on Saturday, where trade and business will be the main focus.
Twitter Divided Over PM’s Action
While many lauded him for setting an example, others questioned why he was using a single-use plastic bag to pick up trash.
He also shared pictures of him taking a walk along the scenic coast.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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