GUWAHATI, Oct 2 - Calling upon the people to follow the ideals and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, Governor Banwarilal Purohit today said that the masses should imbibe the Gandhian ideal of cleanliness and endeavour to keep the State clean.
�Laws, rules and regulations should be made regarding cleanliness and heavy penalty imposed for breach of cleanliness rules. Assam should top the list in the area of cleanliness in the country,� he said while launching a cleanliness campaign at the Kamakhya Temple campus on the occasion of the Gandhiji�s 147th birth anniversary this morning.
Purohit also lauded the culture of the State and said that the people of Assam had the reflection of the works of the saint Srimanta Sankardeva and his work had a cascading effect on the State and the people should adhere to the teachings of the great saint to make Assam an ideal place for cleanliness and godliness.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal who was also present on the occasion reiterated the mantra of Gandhiji that �Cleanliness is Godliness� and stressed the need for individual and community cleanliness.
The cleanliness drive was organised on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti by the Kamrup (Metro) district administration in association with Kamakhya Mandir Committee, Guwahati Municipal Corporation, Public Health Engineering Department and Kridha Bharati, an NGO.
The Chief Minister also visited the Gandhi Mandap and offered floral tributes at Gandhiji�s statue. Later, he took part in an all-religion prayer and a meeting organised by the Kamrup (Metro) administration in association with the Directorate of Cultural Affairs.
The Chief Minister announced that a new statue of the Father of the Nation would be installed at Gandhi Mandap and a watch tower, along with other tourist-friendly measures at the site to promote the area for tourism.
�The Swachh Bharat Mission has turned into a rashtra dharma. People from every corner of the country have started participating in this mission spontaneously. This mission has truly revolutionised the country,� Sonowal said.
Paying tributes to the Father of the Nation, the Chief Minister said that Gandhiji�s ideals would continue to inspire every Indian.
�Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an attempt has been initiated to take Gandhiji�s ideals to every household. Every citizen must strive hard for a clean Assam. Cleanliness doesn�t only mean keeping our environment clean. It encompasses physical, mental, spiritual cleanliness, too,� he added.
