New Delhi, Oct 2 (IANS): Indians need to change their mindset and join hands to clean up India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday.
But cleaning up the country cannot be the sole responsibility of sweepers. "Do citizens have no role in this? We have to change this mindset," Modi said after launching the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
"India can do it, the people of India can do it," he said, addressing a gathering near the India Gate monument.
If Indians can reach Mars, they certainly can clean up the country, the prime minister added to clapping.
"It takes time to change established mindset. It is a difficult task. But we have five years," he said, referring to his stated goal of having a Clean India by 2019, Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary.
"This is not about Modi... Modi is only one of its 1.2 billion people... This is a people's task."