NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the lead in celebrating ‘Good Governance Day’ to mark the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Thursday. Even as Modi reached his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi to participate in a series of events, including cleaning the Assi Ghats, his ministerial colleagues and party MPs did their bit to organise cleanliness drives and initiate new programmes.
Earlier in the day, Modi visited the residence of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to wish him on his 90th birthday. “Warm birthday wishes to our one and only Atal ji...’ and pledging to devote ourselves to this cause. Development and good governance are the only ways ahead. Together, let us make a positive impact in people’s lives and create a developed India,” Modi said.
BJP chief Amit Shah participated in the cleaning mission and also planted a sapling in the Gole market area in central Delhi. As the party prepares for elections in Delhi, Shah was accompanied by senior Delhi BJP leaders during the ‘shramdaan.’ Union Health Minister J P Nadda paid a surprise visit to Safdarjung hospital and cleaned the premises as part of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Later, Nadda launched “Mission Indradhanush”, which aims to cover by 2020 all those children who are either not vaccinated, or are partially vaccinated, against diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis.
Information and Broadcasting ministry announced that it would soon bring out more films on the lives of national heroes. Minister of Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju inaugurated the e-office governance in his ministry, which will work as a single window clearance system for various services. Coal minister Piyush Goyal formally launched the portal for e-auction of 24 coal mines. Telecom ministry launched a slew of initiatives which facilitate the use of services like India Post, and MTNL.