PM Narendra Modi appreciates Shashi Tharoor's joining Clean India campaign

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today appreciated Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for actively participating in 'Swachh Bharat' campaign, saying his effort is "very encouraging".

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

He also re-tweeted the photographs showing Tharoor leading a group of people in clearing garbage at one place in Vizhinjam in Kerala.

Tharoor, who was removed from the post of spokesman by his party for praising Modi, defended his active participation in the cleanliness drive, saying "this is not the prerogative of any political party and the message of keeping one's surroundings clean was first given by Mahatma Gandhi."

He has said no political meaning should be read into it. "Gandhi had said sanitation was more important than independence. But for Gandhi, cleanliness of body and mind was equally important, which meant that ridding the heart of hatred and violence was also important," Tharoor said when asked whether his action would be dubbed as violation of party's warning.