Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is one of the most ambitious schemes of the Modi government. But it seems that his own ministers are far away from practicing what they preach.
A photo of Rajasthan Health Minister Kalicharan Saraf urinating on a wall in Jaipur is being widely shared on social media, causing embarrassment to the state’s ruling BJP.
While the BJP is trying to bring the city up in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan rankings, this act has brought a lot of shame to the party.
#Rajasthan Health Minister #KaliCharanSaraf urinating at roadside under a govt which claims record work in #ODF @OfficeOfRG @SachinPilot @VasundharaBJP @PMOIndia @vidyarthee pic.twitter.com/5z3ce461bn
— Danish Abrar (@danishabrar2016) February 13, 2018
When media tried to contact the minister, his phone was switched off. According to IANS, he has however responded to the news by shrugging it off, calling it 'not that big an issue.'
Opposition quickly hit back at BJP and asked the minister to apologise.
Govt talks about #SwachchBharat Mission but health minister here in Rajasthan is caught urinating in public. Govt should be ashamed and must publicly apologize: Raghu Sharma,Congress on viral picture of Rajasthan Health Minister Kalicharan Saraf urinating on road pic.twitter.com/DIoyuofaQK
— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2018
कालीचरण सर्राफ़ को तुरंत इस्तीफ़ा देना चाहिए !
— Prof.Vikram Singh (@DrVikramGurjar) February 13, 2018
The minister was criticized on social media by Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee’s IT cell secretary Danish Abrar and cricketer Harbhajan Singh, among others.
Setting right example???Rajasthan Minister Urinates On Roadside, Says "Not A Big Issue" - NDTV https://t.co/OkoH8JFf47
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 15, 2018
the real contribution in #SwachhBharat ABHIYAN of rajasthan health minister @KalicharanSaraf @AshokLahotyBJP have a look @VasundharaBJP pic.twitter.com/Hqid1tWori
— manish bhattacharya (@NN_Manish) February 13, 2018
It should be noted that it is also illegal to urinate on the roads and violation of the law warrants a fine of up to Rs.200.