Chandigarh, October 2 - The Chief Minister of Haryana, Sh. Manohar Lal paid rich tributes to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and Former Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversary. He said that on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary in 2014, all the citizens were motivated to build toilets in their homes, as part of a nationwide cleanliness drive Swacch Bharat Abhiyan. As a result, millions of households benefited from it and significantly supported eliminating open defecation. Apart from this, under the Swachhta Abhiyan, people were also made aware of cleanliness in their surrounding environment. He said that the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign has significantly contributed to development of the nation, especially in the rural areas.

The Chief Minister said that from September 17, the birthday of the Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi to October 2, the birthday of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, Swachhta Pakhwada is being run across the state.He recommended adopting cleanliness in our daily life. Without cleanliness, we get surrounded by various diseases, and health treatments cost a significant expenditure. The cost of health services may be reduced, and the body will continue to function well if cleanliness is fully embraced in daily life.

The Chief Minister said that the former Prime Minister, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri was rich in simple living, and high thinking and his slogan ‘Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan’ continues to inspire everyone since decades. The soldiers constantly work to secure the nation's borders by the inspiration of the Former Prime Minister, and the farmers have made the nation strong and food-self reliant by growing an abundance of grains satisfying the nation’s requirements.

The Chief Minister said that the high and ideal thoughts of both the great men, Mahatma Gandhi and Former Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, will always pave our way. Let us continue to strive for the public good in the nation and the state by drawing motivation from their lives. Haryana Government has also taken many decisions in the interest of farmers, which are moving towards making them financially self-reliant.