Extensive clean-up drive on eve of Ambedkar Jayanti

Throughout the marathon route, BJP workers showered flowers on participants

- HT Correspondent

LUCKNOW: During an extensive cleanliness drive undertaken in all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, on the eve of Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar's 134th anniversary, parks, memorial, crossings, public places, and statues of great personalities, including Dr Ambedkar's, were cleaned by public representatives, government officers, employees, and the public. The statewide drive was carried out on the instructions of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, according to a government statement.

As part of the drive, parks and Ambedkar statues were cleaned in 694 gram panchayats and 100 municipal wards of Varanasi. As many as 1,238 gram panchayats in Ghazipur saw a similar drive ahead of Ambedkar Jayanti, the statement said. The drives were also held in Jaunpur, Aligarh, Pratapgarh, and Shahjahanpur.

In Prayagraj, 56 BJP corporators coordinated the cleanliness drive, while Agra, Ayodhya, Jhansi, Etah, Gorakhpur, Deoria, all districts in the Bareilly division, Shravasti, Hapur, Aligarh, Amethi, Ambedkarnagar, Sultanpur, and Bundelkhand also witnessed a similar drive.

The drive was also carried out extensively in the state capital Lucknow, where Dr Ambedkar's statues were cleaned and decked up. At many of these places, programmes marking Dr Ambedkar's anniversary will be held on Monday.

LUCKNOW: On the eve of birth anniversary of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, the BJP on Sunday organised 'Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Marathon' from KD Singh Babu Stadium which concluded at the 1090 crossing. Dharampal Singh, state general secretary (organisation) of the BJP, flagged off the race. Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak greeted runners at 1090 crossing. Throughout the marathon route, BJP workers lined up on both sides of the road and showered flowers on participants.

"Babasaheb dedicated his entire life to the poor and downtrodden," said Dharampal Singh while addressing the gathering at KD Singh Babu stadium.