Mahatma Gandhi's personal secretary V Kalyanam hails Narendra Modi's 'Swachch Bharat'

CHENNAI: Mahatma Gandhi's personal secretary V Kalyanam today welcomed the launch of cleanliness drive 'Swachch Bharat' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

After formally launching here two stamps commemorating the 100th year of Gandhiji's return to India from England, he said the Clean India movement started during Mahatma Gandhi's period was unable to take off due to the British rule.

While criticising Congress for not taking up such an initiative during its regime, he welcomed Swachch Bharat campaign undertaken by the NDA Government, saying the entire country has become a "public latrine".

Modi who launched the Swachch Bharat campaign aims to clean up India in five years.

The Centre has nominated several personalities from various fields including former cricketer VVS Laxman, badminton chief national coach Pullela Gopichand, chess player Koneru Humpy, playback singer S P Balasubrahmanyam as brand ambassadors for the 'Swachh Bharat' campaign.

Referring to reports of setting up statue for Nathuram Godse, he said, "it was 'strongly' condemnable".

An album of Commemorative stamps was also presented to nonagenarian Kalyanam, who was personal secretary to Gandhi between 1943-48, on the occasion.