Tharoor cleans beach

October 26, 2014 12:19 am | Updated October 18, 2016 03:09 pm IST - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor engaged in a cleaning drive at Vizhinjam on Saturday. - Photo: S. Gopakumar

Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor engaged in a cleaning drive at Vizhinjam on Saturday. - Photo: S. Gopakumar

Shashi Tharoor, MP, appeared to trigger yet another controversy as he launched a high-profile cleaning of the beach at Vizhinjam, near here, on Saturday.

Mr. Tharoor picked empty bottles and garbage near the Vizhinjam guesthouse. Several local Congress workers and youngsters joined him.

Mr. Tharoor told presspersons that his intention was to send out a message to the people of the constituency not to drop litter in public places and to keep their environs clean. His initiative did not have anything to do with the Swachch Bharat Abhiyan, which was only a refurbished version of similar programmes launched by the UPA government.

Coming down heavily on the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation, the Congress MP accused it of not having kept the city clean. They had one more year to do this, and if they were successful in their attempt, he would appreciate their efforts. He had not invited the media to witness his cleaning of the beach. He had invited only local party workers to join him in the initiative.

There was some murmur in the Congress about the cleaning initiative, some questioning the timing of his action and others hinting at the possibility of his having come under pressure from the BJP government at the Centre. While Congress leader Ajay Tharayil felt that the MP might have decided to take up the cleaning drive as he did not have as many commitments as before, Mahila Congress leader Shanimol Usman felt that Mr. Tharoor’s timing was wrong.

Pat from Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated Mr. Tharoor for actively participating in the Swachh Bharat campaign, saying his effort is “very encouraging.”

“A great effort by @ShashiTharoor! His active participation in Swachh Bharat Mission is very encouraging,” Mr. Modi tweeted.

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