BILASPUR,CG,INDIA: Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Sao praised Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay for his forward-thinking vision, which continues to inspire modern governance.

He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is driving the nation forward by embracing Upadhyay's philosophy of progress rooted in India's cultural heritage, with Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai leading similar efforts at the state level.

Sao paid tribute to the visionary leader and proponent of Integral Humanism, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, on his birth anniversary on Wednesday. At a ceremony held at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Udyan in Bilaspur, Sao garlanded the statue of Upadhyay, commemorating his contributions to modern political thought.

As part of the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ fortnight, organized by the Bilaspur Municipal Corporation, Deputy Chief Minister Sao also took part in a cleanliness drive, sweeping and cleaning the garden alongside MLAs and local representatives. Following this, he flagged off a cleanliness marathon and distributed sarees and kits to the sanitation workers, known as Swachhata Didis, as a gesture of appreciation for their efforts.

“The world now believes that the 21st century belongs to India, and our country will lead the way,” he remarked.

Sao emphasized the importance of cleanliness, citing figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, who recognized its critical role in public health and well-being. He called for continued public cooperation to ensure the success of cleanliness initiatives, stressing that such missions can only be fulfilled through collective effort.

During the event, Councilor Durga Soni announced a donation of ₹5 lakh for the installation of a new statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay in the garden. MLA Dharamlal Kaushik also addressed the gathering, reinforcing the importance of maintaining cleanliness in public spaces.

The cleanliness marathon saw enthusiastic participation from people across the city. To support the runners, the Municipal Corporation set up water and glucose stations at various intersections along the route.