Litter removed from the route used for Vajpayee’s last journey

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 17

While a large number of people accompanied former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his last journey, there were groups amidst them who voluntarily engaged themselves in removing bottles and other litter along the route as a homage to the departed leader.

These voluntary groups — comprising of men of all ages — kept a hawk eye on the waste dumped on the road by the crowds which thronged the BJP headquarters since the leader’s mortal remains were brought to enable his admirers to have a last glimpse of him.

The Deen Dayal Upadhya Road from ITO Crossing to the BJP headquarters en route for Vajpayee’s last journey to Rashtriya Smriti Sthal where he was finally laid to rest.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah walked side by side behind the vehicle carrying the mortal remains. Other leaders were behind them.

They were followed by a serpentine line of crowds and motorcade.

The entire stretch from ITO Crossing to the BJP headquarters was packed with people pouring in since the mortal remains were brought there.

Many who did not get a chance to get in the party office complex had parked themselves along the road for hours.

A member of one of the groups of Vajpayee’s admirers, Ram Sharan (67), who had come all the way from Bagpat (Uttar Pradesh), said: “We are removing the empty bottles as we want the road used by Shri Atal ji for his last journey to remain clean.”

At the ITO metro station, the group was unmindful of the danger of being pushed and trampled by the passing by crowds who were taught emotion chanting slogans in honour of Vajpayee.

“Atal ji was meticulous in matters of hygiene, and had great love for pure environment,” added Sharan with a choked voice, wiping his eyes welled up with tears.

A member of another similar group which showed up among the streaming crowds near ITO metro station, said removing of the litter also fitted with government’s “Swachhta Abhiyan”, which is a pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

They collected bottles and other refuse from the roads and deposited at the roadside in a heap.

Still, there were many in the crowds carrying bottles of water throwing them on the road unmindfully.