Minister throws clean-up challenge before Jaipur mayor

Rajasthan Urban Development Minister Shrichand Kriplani is not happy with the cleanliness in Jaipur city and has targeted its mayor, Ashok Lahoti, for the filthy state of the capital. 

Kripalani openly challenged Mayor Lahoti, saying that if he brought Jaipur to the number one rank in the upcoming national survey on cleanliness, then he would vacate his ministerial berth for him. 

“The city of Bharatpur was cleaned in a day. What are you doing, Lahoti? If you make Jaipur number one across the country in cleanliness, then I will leave my ministerial post for you,” he said.  

The minister was speaking at a workshop organised by the Directorate of Local Bodies (DLB) on Monday to orient workers towards the upcoming Cleanliness Survey-2018. The survey will be conducted in 4,041 cities across the country. 

While addressing the inaugural session of the workshop, Kripalani took a potshot at Lahoti, saying, “Bharatpur Mayor’s outfit seems like that of a rural dweller’s. But they did the work that Ashok Lahoti, who wears trousers, could not do.”

The minister also targeted the luxurious office of Ashok Lahoti in Jaipur Municipal Corporation building. He said, “You have seen the chamber of Lahoti. It is better than my chamber.” 

Kripalani said that he got to where he is after 40 years of hard work. And yet, if, “in the survey, you bring Jaipur to the number one spot, I will leave my chair for you.”