Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: Raju Srivastav wields the broom, nominates Mayawati, Azam

Kanpur: Stand-up comedian Raju Srivastav, who was nominated for Swachhta Abhiyaan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, weilded the broom here on Sunday and nominated Mayawati and Azam Khan among 11 persons for the cleanliness challenge.

Srivastav, who quit Samajwadi Party to join BJP in March this year, spent an hour on his cleanliness drive at Navinagar in Kakadev area here.

He nominated 11 persons, including the Prime Minister, BSP supremo Mayawati, Uttar Pradesh minister and senior SP leader Azam Khan, Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kisan, folk singer Malini Awasthi, comedians Rajpal Yadav and Sunil Grover among others.

When asked why he chose Mayawati and Khan for the challenge, Srivastav said cleanliness is the responsibility of every citizen irrespective of political affiliation, caste or religion.

He said Swachhta Abhiyaan will be successful only when people take it seriously and not just as a photo opportunity.

Srivastava, who was offered a ticket from the Kanpur seat by Samajwadi Party, joined BJP in March, 2014 ahead of teh Lok Sabha polls. SP had later withdrawn his candidature from Kanpur.