Cleanliness of Ganga responsibility of entire society: Dy CM
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said on Tuesday that cleanliness of the Ganga river was not the responsibility of the government alone but the entire society.
“The Ganga descended on this earth for our salvation and her cleanliness is not only the government’s responsibility but also of the society. In the fertile Gangetic plains, crops grow without any fertilisers. Those who do not have any feelings for Holy Ganga are questioning Ganga Yatra,” he said.
Maurya was addressing a public meeting at Saidpur ground of Ghazipur on the second day of Ganga Yatra which was started from Ballia and will culminate in Kanpur.
The BJP leader said that the public should be congratulated for the tumultous welcome given to Ganga Yatra.
“This is not an ordinary journey as our elders blessed us saying that there is life as long as there is water in Ganga and Yamuna,’’ he said.
“Everyone knows that 24 crore people from across the world took a dip of faith at Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj and sought blessings from the Ganga last year. Ganga does not belong to any caste or religion, it belongs to everyone. The purpose of Ganga Yatra is to make the river serene and ever-flowing and connect everyone with Ganga’s economy. Ganga parks will be constructed and organic farming carried out in villages along the river. The government is also getting ‘Ganga Talab’ constructed which will develop villages,” he said.
Maurya said that he would call upon farmers along the river to engage in organic farming to get pure form of food and also keep the Ganga clean. “While the state government is making arrangements for such farming, farmers should not allow any one to dump polythene or its products into the holy river as it makes everyone sick. Also, do not perform last rites on the banks of Ganga as it pollutes the river. We have to bring back the old form of Ganga,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey said there were some leaders in Uttar Pradesh interested only in increasing their income.
“They are saying that the BJP is misleading people. For these people, Ganga is only water but for us, it is life,” he said.
Pandey said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the initiative to transform Ganga in true sense.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma addressed a public meeting at Garhmukteshwar Ghat on Tuesday. “Ganga Yatra is not only a yatra but a pledge to ensure that the river remains clean and ever-flowing. People’s gathering during the yatra and Ganga aarti has broken caste and religious barriers. People are making society aware about the sanctity of Ganga,” he said.
Earlier, Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said: “Excitement is visible among people about Ganga Yatra and all are joining by breaking caste and religion barriers.”
Several seniort BJP leaders, including Union minister General VK Singh; UP ministers Chetan Chauhan, Suresh Rana, Kapil Dev Aggarwal and Baldev Singh Aulakh were present on the stage during the meeting.
