The Newshour Debate: #CheatingCleanIndia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's indigenous 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' has become a mere photo-op thanks to BJP party leaders in New Delhi. The BJP Thursday (Nov. 6) was embarrassed after photographs emerged of leaves being dumped on a Delhi sidewalk before it was cleaned for a photo opportunity with BJP Delhi Chief Satish Upadhyay and former AAP leader Shazia Ilmi. Some media outlers carried photos of garbage being dumped minutes before Satish Upadhyay swept it clean with a broom outside India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC) in Delhi on Wednesday as part of the Prime Minister's 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'. The Delhi BJP chief, meanwhile, defended his participation in the programme and has blamed organizers for the massive PR disaster. "It was a programme of the Islamic Centre, I had just gone their for few minutes, the organizers should have taken care of it," Satish Upadhyay said reacting to the criticism. He went on to slam the orgainzers and said, "I completely condemn this, cleanliness drive is to be taken seriously & everyone should do it honestly." BJP spokesman Sambit Patra, speaking to Times Now, said the Delhi unit chief was at the event as a guest and was not responsible for the action of the over-enthusiastic organizers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on October 2 and has roped in several celebrities across the country as part of his drive to clean the country.

In a debate moderated by TIMES NOW's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, panelists -- M Wajood Sajid, Media Advisor to President India Islamic Cultural Centre; Dr Sambit Patra, National Spokesperson BJP; Jaiveer Shergill, Advocate, Supreme Court and Media Panelist, Congress; Atishi Marlena, Spokesperson, AAP; Ajoy Bose, Senior Journalist -- discuss whether the politicians should set an example for the people or only pose for a photo-op to impress the people.